Plans Announced for Newmarket's Inaugural July Festival
Friday 9th March, 2007
THIS year’s inaugural Newmarket July Festival, which is being developed around the town’s major race meeting, the Ritz Club July Festival, will open on Tuesday 10th July with an open-air classical concert at the Newmarket’s July Course.
Other events announced today include Late Night Shopping in the High Street, “Breakfast in the Paddocks”, which will combine a visit to the gallops and a tour of a top trainer’s yard with a lavish breakfast at the Bedford Lodge Hotel, and a James Bond-themed Sporting Dinner at Swynford Paddocks Hotel.
Over the last three months, a development team made up of local business representatives, racecourse officials and the town council have been working together on the creation of the Festival with which it is hoped that people from all parts of the town will become involved. Pub landlords will be encouraged to arrange for live music in their pubs that week and other ideas, many of which maybe for future years, include a funfair, art exhibitions, a Real Ale festival, a fashion show and open air theatre. Discussions have already taken place for Newmarket’s annual carnival to be incorporated into the July Festival from 2008.
Whilst it is recognised that it will take time to build the Newmarket July Festival into something big – the organising team are working with a six year plan in mind - the aspiration is for it eventually to become a national and perhaps even an international event.
"Robin Millar, a District Councillor and former Mayor of Newmarket, and current member of the Newmarket Festival Development team, said: “I believe that this presents a huge opportunity for our Town to develop something which brings us all together, is fun, exciting and interesting and helps to promote Newmarket to a much wider audience. In time I hope that it will attract people from across the region to be part of a dynamic Festival week.
"The events that we are announcing today are just a start. What I hope more than anything is that Newmarket's schools, clubs, shop owners, churches, pub landlords, hoteliers, businesses and other entrepreneurs will see the same potential for a Newmarket Festival as we do. There is so much scope for them to use their own initiative to theme premises, organise their own events and be part of the buzz. The way forward for the Festival is letting everybody have a part in celebrating our Town."
Gaynor Haxby, Marketing Manager for Newmarket Racecourses and a member of the development team, said: “We are very excited about the prospect of making this week into an event for the whole of Newmarket and, while it will inevitably take at least a couple of years for it to grow into something really substantial, we hope that it will get off to a great start this year.
"Our racing Ritz Club-sponsored racing festival on the July Course attracts more than 10,000 people on each of the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. That is a great basis upon which to build something much broader for the whole town to participate in and enjoy."
The development team will be delighted to help advise on appropriate events and activities that individuals or organisations might wish to stage.
MAJOR JULY FESTIVAL EVENTS CALENDAR
Tuesday 10th July
Opening Gala Concert
The Newmarket Festival will commence on Tuesday 10th July with an open-air classical concert, in association with Classic FM at Newmarket’s July Course. The headlining act will be announced very soon. Local school choirs will also be invited to perform as opening acts for the concert – any choir masters interested in this opportunity should contact Gaynor Haxby on 01638 675 505.
There are 3 ticket options available for this special concert:
- General Admission - £25. This includes access to all areas of the racecourse except the Golden Circle and the Aphrodite Enclosure. Guests may bring their own tables, chairs and picnics into this area.
- Golden Circle Tickets - £30. The Golden Circle is the area directly in front of the stage. Guests may bring their own tables, chairs and picnics into this area.
Both General Admission and Golden Circle Tickets can be booked by calling 01638 675 500 or to book online click here.
- Hospitality Package - £95 per person (shared marquee), £115 per person (private marquee). Guests choosing the Hospitality Package will enjoy a relaxed evening in one of the marquees in the July Course’s Aphrodite enclosure. Guests can enjoy their evening in a shared marquee or choose to hire out a complete area to enjoy a private party. Picnic Hampers will be provided for each table and each marquee will have their own cash bar. This package also includes a Premier enclosure admission badge for the following days racing, Classic FM Day, the opening day of The Ritz Club July Festival which will feature Classical music throughout the day.
For more information or to book one of these fantastic Hospitality Packages call 01638 675 300.
Gates open at 6.30pm with the concert starting at 8.00pm.
Wednesday 11th July
Racing, Fashion & Classical Music
The Newmarket Festival will continue on Wednesday 11th July with the first day of the Ritz Club July Festival which will see the official opening of the July Course after the £10 million redevelopment which began last September. The Ritz Club July Festival is 3 days of world class racing in a garden party atmosphere.
For the opening day, the nation’s favourite commercial classical radio station, Classic FM, will present a selection of live classical music before, between and after racing. On the track, interest will centre on the day’s top class feature races, the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation Falmouth Stakes and the Chippenham Lodge Stud Cherry Hinton Stakes.
There will be a glamorous fashion theme running throughout the whole of the Ritz Club July Festival with ‘Best Dressed’ competitions every day. On Classic FM Day the focus is on head-turning hats with a top prize for the best of the day!
For the first time there will be an exciting retail village located in the Garden Enclosure for racegoers to visit – more details to follow soon.
Late Night Shopping
In the evening head down to Newmarket’s high street and choose your glamorous outfits to wear to Thursday’s Newmarket Ladies’ day as many Newmarket retailers will be keeping their doors open till 8pm.
Thursday 12th July
Racing and all the fashion of Ladies’ Day
Day two of The Ritz Club July Festival is the most stylish race day in the Newmarket racing calendar, Ladies’ Day. There will be plenty of top class racing entertainment on the track as the Princess of Wales’s Stakes takes centre stage. Off the track all eyes will be on the ladies as they compete to be crowned Newmarket’s ‘Best Dressed Lady’ and win some fantastic prizes.
Bond is Back! Swynford Paddocks Gala Sporting Dinner
For the evening, don your smartest black tie and party dress, as Swynford Paddocks will be hosting a Casino Royale-themed Sporting Dinner, a perfect complement to Newmarket’s July Festival. The glorious grounds of the hotel are the setting for the marquee which guests will approach along a stretch of red carpet, adorned with glitzy gold post and royal red roping. Welcome drinks will be served - martinis shaken, not stirred! – or something sparkling for those who prefer. Throughout the evening there will be speeches from top sporting guests, including John Francome. The remainder of speakers will be confirmed soon. Of course, the evening would not be complete without the man himself, Bond, James Bond making an appearance accompanied by a couple of lovely Bond girls.
After a sumptuous 4 course dinner, The Casino Royale will be open with professional gaming tables: roulette, blackjack and craps. Guests can win a fabulous bottle of champagne or martini for being the highest roller of the evening.
Tickets for this event are priced at £95 + VAT per person or for a table of 10 priced at £850 + VAT. Tickets are now on sale and can be booked by calling Swynford Paddocks on 01638 570234.
Friday 13th July
‘Breakfast in the Paddocks’
Friday morning starts bright and early as The Bedford Lodge Hotel will stage a very special ‘Breakfast in the Paddocks’ hosted by top racing celebrity, John Francome. A sumptuous breakfast will be served on the lawns of the hotel with dishes including Continental Pastries, Platters of Fresh Fruit, Toasted English Muffins with Scrambled Egg and Smoked Salmon, Home-made ‘Newmarket’ Sausage Croissants and Freshly ‘cooked to order’ Pancakes with Maple Syrup; served a selection of beverages including Bucks Fizz, a selection of organic juices and Fine Teas and Rich Roast Coffee.
Following breakfast, guests will be escorted onto the Gallops to witness the work of up and coming Newmarket trainer, Nick Littmoden as he puts his horses through their daily exercise before the racing in the afternoon. Guests will then visit Nick’s training yard for an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ look at how a yard prepares for one of the biggest race days in the racing calendar, Darley July Cup Day.
This exclusive breakfast package includes:
- Breakfast with visit to the gallops and tour of the trainer’s yard - £30 per person
- Breakfast with visit to the gallops and tour of the trainer’s yard and Premier Enclosure admission badge for Darley July Cup Day - £50 per person
For more information or to book your place at the ‘Breakfast in the Paddocks’ please call The Bedford Lodge Hotel on 01638 663175.
Racing at its best – the Darley July Cup
In the afternoon the racing festival reaches an exhilarating climax with the most exciting of racecards, headlined by the Darley July Cup. This is the number one sprint race in Europe, where race goers will witness the fastest thoroughbreds fighting for the Champion Sprinter’s Crown. The final day of the festival sees the fashion focus turn the spotlight on to the stylish couples where there will be a great prize awarded for the best dressed duo.
Tickets for each day the Ritz Club July Festival are priced at:
- Premier Enclosure - £32
- Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure - £20
Book online at www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk and receive a 20% discount
Come and enjoy all 3 days of The Ritz Club July Festival as new for 2007 is a special priced 3-Day Racing Festival Ticket:
- Premier Enclosure for all 3 days of the Ritz Club July Festival - £69
- Grandstand & Paddock Enclosure for all 3 days of the Ritz Club July Festival - £45
Discounts are not available on 3-Day Festival Tickets
For more information or to book tickets for The Ritz Club July Festival call 01638 675 500 or to book tickets click here.
Saturday 14th July
It is hoped that there will be plenty of events on the Saturday (and possibly Sunday), when more local people would be able to participate. Please let us know your ideas!
Many more elements to the Festival are still to be announced as local Newmarket businesses and retailers are yet to plan their activities. Other organisations planning an involvement include The National Stud and The National Horseracing Museum.
The Newmarket Festival is going to be British Summer Time at its very best. Make sure you are a part of it!
Media Contacts
Newmarket Racecourses
Gemma Hussey 01638 675 550 07774 263 884
gemma.hussey@jockeyclubracecourses.com
Gaynor Haxby 01638 675 505 07771 978 475