Racing Centre

Newmarket's senior trainer Clive Brittain is pictured above

FASCINATING behind-the-scenes tours at Cheveley Park Stud, renowned as one of the most successful thoroughbred farms in Europe and stables of Newmarket’s senior trainer Clive Brittain will be on offer to Newmarket race goers on a first-come, first-served basis on the Stan James Guineas Festival weekend.

Illustrated talks by Peter Webbon, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust and sports psychologist Michael Caulfield will be other highlights of the Stan James Guineas Festival Weekend.

Lisa Hancock, Newmarket's Managing Director, said: "Newmarket is a town like nowhere else on earth, where the racehorse is king and where there are so many interesting horseracing-related places to visit. We hope to enable a small number of our racegoers to visit some of these prior to racing on our bigger days.

“In the autumn, the tours of Peter Chapple-Hyam’s, Tattersalls and Dalham Hall stables were a huge success and we receive excellent feedback from those who went.”

Home of Horseracing Tours

Following the very popular introduction at last year’s Stan James Guineas Festival  of pre-racing tours to Newmarket racing venues that would not normally be open to the public, it has been confirmed that these will take place at this year’s Stan James Guineas Festival – Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th May.

The tours will cost £10 per person and must be booked in advance, on a first come, first served basis by calling 01638 675 500. The tours conducted in the spring and autumn in 2006 sold out very quickly so early booking is advisable (numbers are limited to approx. 50 people for each tour).

A coach will depart from the Grandstand and Paddock turnstiles at the NatWest Rowley Mile at 10.15am prompt. Tours will last approx 1 ½ hours and race goers will be brought back to the NatWest Rowley Mile in plenty of time to enjoy superb day of racing.

Saturday 5^th May – A behind the Scenes tour of Cheveley Park Stud.

Cheveley Park Stud, situated two miles to the east of Newmarket, is probably the oldest stud in England, and racehorses have been bred here for over a thousand years. Records show that several reigning monarchs have owned parts of Cheveley at one time or another, including King Athelstan, King Canute, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, Edward I and Edward II. Even today, there are some buildings that date back to the sixteenth century.

The stud is home to 8 top Stallions and has bred 16 Group 1 winnersover the past few years. During 2006 Cheveley Park Stud bred four individual Group 1 winners in Nannina, Peeress the Prix de l'Abbaye winner Desert Lord and the Prix de Diane winner Confidential Lady.

Sunday 6^th May – A visit to Clive Brittain’s training yard.

Brittain first earned money out of horses at the age of eight, breaking in ponies. He served his apprenticeship with Sir Noel Murless, for whom he worked as a groom for 21 years. He set up as a trainer from Pegasus House Stables in Newmarket in 1972, having his first winner, Vedvyas, at Doncaster on April 1 of that year. In 1975 Brittain moved to Carlburg Stables, where has been ever since.

His first classic winner was Julio Mariner, who took the 1978 St. Leger. Since then Brittain has won the 1,000 Guineas with Pebbles in 1984 and Sayyedati in 1993, the 2,000 Guineas with Mystiko in 1991, the 1992 Oaks and St. Leger with User Friendly.

In 1985, he achieved a feat never before accomplished by a British trainer when he became the first European to train a Breeders’ Cupwinner with Pebbles, who triumphed in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. One year later, he had a go at the Kentucky Derby, a race regarded as practically beyond the reach of European horses. Bold Arrangement finished second. Later the same year, he became the 1st British trainer to lift the Japan Cupwith Jupiter Island.

Masterclasses

The spring Masterclasses at The NatWest Rowley Mile have now been confirmed.

Saturday 5^th May – Andrew Webbon, Chief Executive of the Animal Health Trust.

Sunday 6^th May – Sports psychologist, Michael Caulfield and a leading top jockey will talk about sports psychology.

The Masterclasses will be conducted by Lorna Bradburne in the Parade Ring approximately 45 minutes before the first race. There will also be video footage displayed on the big screen to illustrate the content of the Masterclass.