A Luxury Stay In Newmarket With The Jockey Club

18 Nov A Luxury Stay In Newmarket With The Jockey Club

Newmarket is still regarded as the ‘HQ’ of British horseracing. Therefore, I went along to find out more about one of the greatest equestrian centres in the world.

Newmarket is a small market town in Suffolk, approximately one hour and thirty minutes by car from the hustle and bustle of London. It is also considered the birthplace and global centre of horseracing, and the location of the historic Newmarket Racecourse.

The town is home to 20,000 people and 5,500 racehorses, of which 375,000 visitors have enjoyed the splendour and wonder that this horseracing capital has to offer. Such is the importance of horseracing in Newmarket, that 1 in 3 people are employed in the world of racing.

As I drew closer and closer to my destination, it was evident from the numerous equine statues, signs and plaques on display that this is very much a horses’ hamlet. I was very excited to discover and gain more of an insight into the thrilling world of the ‘sport of kings’, and my first port of call via my whistle-stop tour of Newmarket was The Jockey Club Rooms which is located halfway down a buzzing Newmarket high street in the town centre.

The iron gated, handsome looking property is calm and tranquil, and after receiving a warm welcome on arrival, I took a leisurely stroll around the grounds of which my breath was instantly taken away by the sheer beauty on display from the gorgeous interiors and furnishings right through to the well-honed external premises.

This world-famous private members club is steeped in so much history dating back to the middle of the 18th century when it was founded. A regal and enchanting outpost, blessed with divine lounge rooms, there are flawlessly manicured lawns, stunning paintings, and original photographs of some of the finest British horseracing artwork collection on show.

The Jockey Club Rooms has been a firm favourite throughout the years with royalty, dignitaries, VIPs and the racing elite, and has continued that tradition right through to present day.

After a relaxing cup of tea at The Jockey Club Rooms, I took a short walk to Palace House and then proceeded on an excellent tour which consisted of experiencing the new National Horseracing Museum, the National Art Gallery of British Sporting Art and I also got the opportunity to get up close and personal with former racehorse legend ‘Our Vic’ who was an absolute delight at the flagship yard of Retraining of Racehorses.

The National Heritage Centre at Palace House is the result of over ten years planning, building and fundraising to become the biggest new attraction to open in Suffolk in the last decade and is well worth a visit.

A wonderful lunch was served at the Tack Room which is a boutique onsite restaurant and serves traditional British food with a twist using the very best ingredients and produce sourced from the local area. My next stop was the impressive Juddmonte Farms which is one of the leading breeders in the world and the base for its European stallion operation.

This magnificent manor house is situated amongst 360 acres and has Japanese Ginkgo trees that line the entrance to the stallion unit and covering shed. A former moated site of medieval origin and impeccably manicured lawns finish the accommodation off beautifully. It was incredible to see the sublime horses such as Oasis Dream, Bated Breath, Kingman, Dansili, all impressive in their own right and led out by their handlers.

However, it was the chance to meet, greet and get close to the world-class Frankel which was a real highlight of the day. This legendary horse was unbeaten in his fourteen-race career and was the highest-rated racehorse in the world from May 2011. He can now be seen all around Newmarket in books, photographs, paintings, plaques and statues, but to see this majestic animal so close was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I truly relished.

Frankel has done so much to promote Juddmonte and racing to wider audiences and has also put Newmarket firmly on the racing map.

Following my time at Juddmonte, I took a quick driving tour which saw me pass The Rowley Mile, The July Course, and The National Stud. I stopped off at The National Stud which remains the only commercial thoroughbred breeding operation in the UK and is located across a dazzling 500-acres of land.

This expansive estate opens its doors to the public and offers them a unique behind the scenes look at a working thoroughbred farm. There are over 2,000 thoroughbreds in training in Newmarket at any one time and it was great to see behind the scenes of this all-embracing site.

The appeal of horseracing has really grown far and wide and is on a global scale now. It is also the second most popular spectator sport in Britain today after football, and over the years, it has become a British sporting establishment which is much loved and followed by numerous people from all walks of life.

By now it was time to check in to The Packhorse Inn where I would be staying for the evening. This small but perfectly formed hotel comprises of eight bedrooms and is located in Newmarket and a short journey from the celebrated Newmarket Racecourse, gallops and stables. I stayed in the Plantation room which is French-inspired, warm, cosy and overlooks the village green.

The room décor is bright, white and airy with antique furniture, a comfy king size double bed and large sash windows. The contemporary en-suite bathroom has a generous walk-in shower combined with underfloor heating which completed the peaceful, ambient surroundings.

The evening was now upon us and I made my way to Tattersalls which is the oldest bloodstock auctioneers in the world and the largest in Europe. It is an international firm offering approximately 10,000 thoroughbred horses each year across 15 sales at either its Newmarket headquarters in England or at Fairyhouse outside Dublin, in Ireland.

This unique gathering brings together an eclectic mix of owners, champion trainers, celebrities, sports personalities and royalty from both the UK and abroad. It’s a very special event with a magnetic atmosphere, and I was thrilled to be in and around the dynamic sales ring to witness the auctioneer conduct some tense bidding amongst some of the biggest racehorse owners and trainers in the world.

After all the drama and theatre of the frenzied Tattersalls sales ring, a sumptuous dinner followed which consisted of a divine starter dish of pan-seared scallops, charred apple, fennel and chicory salad. For my main course, I opted for the pan-fried fillet of Scottish beef which was succulent and exquisitely cooked. This also came with green peppercorn and brandy sauce, all garnished with a mixed winter leaf salad and tasty pomme frites. For my dessert, I had a delicious sticky toffee pudding served with a knockout salted caramel sauce, praline and vanilla ice-cream all served at The Red Room at Tattersalls.

This elegant dining area consists of approximately 100 covers and was teeming with enthusiastic diners fresh from their exploits from the exciting sales ring earlier that day. The Red Room at Tattersalls is the perfect platform for those to meet, greet and network with one another whilst discussing their business of the day.

The following morning was an early start as I had the opportunity to see the top trainers in Newmarket put their horses through their paces on Warren Hill. There are 89 active trainers in Newmarket and 70 miles of training gallops which are owned and managed by the Jockey Club Estates.

A short car journey to the gallops on Warren Hill via an immaculate Bentley Bentayga was an exceptionally smooth and effortless driving experience. The crisp morning chill was the ideal weather conditions for countless thoroughbreds to gallop past as their trainers watched on with a professional eye.

With the break of dawn and the sun rising against the serene, dewy backdrop of Newmarket gallops, firmly dominated by the sound of thunderous horses’ hooves, it really is a graceful sight that needs to be witnessed and experienced.

A swift drive back to The Jockey Club Rooms was followed by a delightful breakfast, a lovely end to a truly memorable experience.

My time in Newmarket with the Jockey Club was outstanding and brilliantly curated in association with Discover Newmarket who is the tourism hub and official tour guide for Newmarket.

So, whether you are a horseracing enthusiast, new to the sport or curious to learn more about the horseracing industry, there is something for everyone and you won’t be disappointed by what’s on offer in this remarkable town.

In short, Newmarket can be enjoyed by a solo traveller, a couple or a family with so much to see and do, including a variety of tailored tours, excursions, events, festivals and of course, horseracing too.