Newmarket: More than Just a Racecourse
It begins as nothing more than a faint rumble in the distance, gradually building in intensity with every step. Meanwhile, anticipation throughout the Grandstand becomes more palpable with every inflection of the commentator’s voice. As the runners approach, the faint rumble turns into the thunder of hooves, resonating through the ground and rising through a thousand pounding chests. The tension builds until finally it breaks free in the form of a deafening roar from the buzzing crowd as the horses cross the line…
Many of us have experienced the thrill of the races at Newmarket, but very few of us are aware just how much more this unique town has to offer. Read on for an itinerary that will turn a race day afternoon into a fascinating weekend insight into ‘The Sport of Kings’.

The QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket Racecourse, The Rowley Mile
Saturday 9.00am - Experience the Unique
Ever since the 1600s when King Charles II selected Newmarket Heath as a perfect site to pursue his sporting interests, this most famous of areas has been used for the training of the thoroughbred racehorse. Fast forward to the present day and there are now over 80 trainers, and 2,500 thoroughbreds using these training grounds on a regular basis.
This makes for a truly remarkable sight each morning when strings of racehorses emerge from the most unexpected nooks throughout the town centre to ride out on The Heath. Despite the advent of the motor car, they still follow the very same routes, holding up traffic as they go… after all, the horses were there first!
There is no better way to experience this unique occurrence than with a tour from Discover Newmarket. As the tourism hub for the town, Discover Newmarket offers exclusive access to these legendary training grounds to observe world-class horses and trainers preparing for their next big race.

Thoroughbred racehorses training on The Heath
10am - Explore the Industry
Following this, your expert Discover Newmarket guide can take you exclusively behind the scenes at one of these famous trainers’ yards to find out what it takes to create a champion. You will hear from the people responsible for taking care of these finely-tuned racing machines, learning all about the private lives of some of the world’s fastest horses.

Saying hello to ex-racehorses in The Rothschild Yard, Newmarket
11:30am - Discover the History
Her Majesty The Queen is often spotted on unofficial visits to Newmarket. It could be to drop in on one of her horses in training, or just to take a look at the form on the Gallops. However, back on 3rd November 2016 the residents of the town came out in droves to welcome our most treasured monarch on a much more public affair: the opening of The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art.
Being built on the site of King Charles II’s 17th Century palace, this brand new facility has Newmarket’s history in its very foundations. It rolls three fantastic attractions into one: Palace House - a gallery housing one of the world’s finest collections of sporting art; The National Horseracing Museum - fully updated and featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibitions; and, The Rothschild Yard - the flagship yard for the Retraining of Racehorses charity which offers thoroughbreds a new lease of life after racing.
Whether you’d prefer to admire a priceless Stubbs, learn about the science of bloodstock or meet a famous ex-racehorse, the National Heritage Centre must not be missed. Not only does it give you the chance to learn all about Newmarket’s unique history but also the history of horseracing as a whole.

Fine sporting art at Palace House, Newmarket
1pm - Feel the Thrill

A day at Newmarket Racecourse
6pm - Taste the Flavours of Newmarket

The Tack Room Restaurant in Newmarket
9pm - Enjoy the Comfort

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa in Newmarket
Sunday 11am - Meet the Next Generation

Foaling season at The National Stud, Newmarket
Plan your Trip
Whether you do all of the above, or just part of it, one thing’s for sure: Newmarket offers a huge amount more than just an afternoon at the races. If you’d like to make a weekend out of your trip, get in touch with Discover Newmarket today to start planning on 0344 748 9200, admin@discovernewmarket.co.uk or www.discovernewmarket.co.uk