Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

Newmarket’s two courses are world
famous. Their length and position
have not altered since the 17th
century, although the maintenance
regimes certainly have!
Carol Dutton reports
“You’re up at 5.00am,
and you might leave at
8.00pm, or you might
leave at midnight - you
have to love it”
Alan Hatherley, Estates Manager, Newmarket Racecourses
Horses
Newmarket Racecourse
is a legend in horse
racing, with a history
going back to the 17th
century. But, although its
famous courses have
remained virtually
unchanged, it is the
thoroughly modern,
sophisticated and
meticulous turf
management that produces
the finest flat racing in the
world.
At the end of August,
Newmarket hosted a
unique three mile and six
furlong race, in which
amateur riders competed
for, amongst other prizes, a
box of Newmarket town
sausages. Called the ‘Town
Plate’ as, originally, the
winner received his
sausages on a plate, the
race has been running once
a year for almost 350 years.
King Charles II, who
instituted the ‘Town Plate’
by Act of Parliament and
contested the race himself,
was passionate about
Newmarket. He relocated
his entire court to the town
twice a year and used to
watch the races sitting on
his trusty hack, Rowley,
after whom one of the
courses, the Rowley Mile, is
named.
Renowned worldwide as
the ‘Rolls Royce’ of racing
and the jewel in the Jockey
Club’s crown, Newmarket