1991-October 1994 Gay Kelleway
Gay Kelleway, daughter of the late jockey and trainer Paul Kelleway, enjoyed a successful riding career before assisting her father as a trainer. She then gained further experience by basing herself at a number of stables in New Zealand. At the age of 28 she began training in her own right at Charnwood Stables in 1991, saddling her first winner, Aberfoyle, at Lingfield Park in January 1993. In October 1994 she informed Ron Dawson, owner of Charnwood Stables, that she would not be continuing her lease, deciding to move on a temporary basis until something more permanent came up. She moved to Eve Lodge Stables in November 1994 in readiness for the 1995 season, before transferring to Whitcombe Manor Stables in Dorset, remaining there until 1998.
For over 4 centuries racing has been staged in Newmarket, but how have the racecourses evolved from an initial starting point at Fleam Dyke Pumping Station, some 8 miles from the town, with a winning post barely 200 metres from the town centre, into two world recognized, excellent racecourses and a universal acceptance that Newmarket is the Headquarters of racing?
To access an interactive racecourse map showing over 50 individually named racecourses CLICK HERE. The map will enable you to:-
1. Determine when extended races over 8 miles, 6 miles and 4 miles began to be replaced by the courses now visited by thousands annually;
2. Consider how the challenge of crossing the Devil's Dyke was overcome;
3. Contemplate why the town no longer has a steeplechase course despite having at least 5 courses during the past 2 centuries;
4. Examine the practicalities of having up to 48 starting posts and winning posts;
5. Appreciate that it was not financially viable to have an open racecourse spread widely across the heath, with a finishing post barely 200 metres from the town centre;
6. Research how and why the Cambridgeshire Handicap has been contested over 3 different courses.
NOTE: The map does not make mention of 2 particular courses:-
(i) Sefton Course (also known as the Cambridge Road Course)
Source: 1970 Raceform.Used from 1959 to 1975.
(ii) New Circular Course
The Circular Handicap was run on Friday 29th October 1875 on the New Circular Course of about two miles.
Source: London Standard (30th October 1875): ''the horses started near the Turn of the Lands, ran back way of the Cambridgeshire Course towards the Ditch, and afterwards proceeded down the side of the Tan Gallop, and turned into the Rowley Mile near the Bretby Stakes starting post, finishing at the stand at the end of the flat. Except in the hollow near the Cambridgeshire start the runners should have been visible all the way if the sky had been bright and clear''.
Another report hoped that the Circular Handicap would become a feature in future programmes, as it would be contested in front of the new grandstand which would be completed in about a year and would be able to accommodate thousands.
(I am grateful to Tim Cox for bringing attention to these 2 courses.)
Enjoy researching the intriguing history of Newmarket and its many racecourses.
1997-2000 Anthony Kelleway
After Paul Kelleway brought down the curtain on his 40-year career in racing in October 1997 his son Anthony, who had assisted him at Shalfleet Stables in the later years, decided to apply for his own trainer's licence. He leased Charnwood Stables where his sister, Gay, had launched her training career just 5 years before him. Anthony registered his first success in early January 1998 when Ursa Major (16/1) won the Leicestershire Claiming Stakes by 4 lengths at Southwell. At that point Anthony was training a string of 9 horses at Charnwood, one of which was Davedon Star who went on to record a Royal Ascot victory in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. He left Charnwood to train in Spain at a brand new racecourse at Mijas.
1998 Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot DAVEDON STAR 12/1 owned by Michael C Whatley, trained by Anthony Kelleway and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2000-2002 Linda Stubbs
Linda Stubbs, wife of former Newmarket trainer Bill, launched her training career at Thirsk in 1996 before transferring to Collingbourne Ducis near Marlborough. Although she was content with her Marlborough Stables, she felt that a move to Newmarket to a larger stable would help boost her career, and accommodate her 18 strong string, so she moved for a third time to Charnwood Stables on the Hamilton Road. She leased the stables from new owner Michael Oseman, who had purchased it from Ron Dawson, although he hoped to have a second trainer on the premises as the full stable has 56 boxes.
1999 Flying Childers Stakes MRS P 33/1 owned by Maurice Parker, trained by Linda Stubbs and ridden by Pat Eddery
2016-2017 Giles Bravery
Giles Bravery was brought up in a racing environment, so it was natural for him to pursue a career in the industry. He began his working life with cattle in Australia before returning to England in 1987, taking up an appointment at the National Stud. He then switched jobs and countries, taking up a post at Haras de la Louviere in France, preparing yearlings for the sale ring. Between 1986 and 1991 Lord John Fitzgerald trained at Albert House Stables, Newmarket, and was assisted by Giles on his return from France, although Giles moved on to gain further experience with Mark Tompkins at Flint Cottage. When Lord John was appointed to a post in Dubai by Sheikh Mohammed in 1991, Giles took charge of Albert House Stables, ably supported by his wife Fiona. He made a success of his time at Albert House and the family moved to Revida Place, on the Hamilton Road, in 1997. He enjoyed an early success when Diamond White won the 1997 Sweet Solera Stakes for owner Peter Scott, while two years later he won arguably his most prestigious race when Torgau landed the 1999 Cherry Hinton Stakes in the hands of Gary Stevens, earning her the Cartier Racing Award of European Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1999, a trophy which Giles collected on the day his daughter Lily was born. Son Harry followed afterwards to complete the family.
Despite not having a full stable, he did enjoy successful seasons at the start of the new millennium, winning 17 races in 2000, achieving his best year in 2001 with 21 winners, and managing 12 winners in 2002. Furthermore, in 2003 he guided Striking Ambition to back to back victories in the Pavilion Stakes and Carnarvon Stakes. Times were always challenging and money always had to be managed carefully, often with just 9 of the 40 boxes occupied. By late 2016 it was reported that Giles Bravery had moved to Charnwood, while from early 2017 he was registered at Green Ridge Stables. He announced his retirement from the training ranks in November 2017 after 26 years.
2006-2021 Paul D'Arcy
Paul William D'Arcy, born on 16th February 1956, spent his early teens helping out at Doug Mark's stables in Lambourn before becoming an apprentice to Geoff Toft and Barry Hills. He rode his first winner, Clem's Boy, at Pontefract on 6th August 1975 and carved out a successful career as a jockey riding for Harry Thomson Jones, David Ringer and Karl Bridgewater. In the early 1990s Paul retired from race riding to pursue a career as a trainer, starting in 1998, and at the start of the new millennium he began training at High Havens Stables, leasing it from Jim Lovat and replacing Karle Burke who had transferred to Middleham. In 2001 Lady High Havens, part owned by Mrs A Lovat, wife of the owner of High Havens Stables, won 2 races at Ascot whilst trained by Paul, and he had high hopes for her if the correct training programme was adopted. The owner decided to transfer Lady High Havens from Paul to Jeremy Noseda, and the horse did not win again. In 2002 Paul trained Indian Haven to win the lowly European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes at Yarmouth, but held high hopes for the colt to perform in a higher class as a three-year-old. However, that would have to be in a different stable, barely 100 yards form High Havens Stable, at Green Ridge Stables, for Jim Lovat gave Paul just 3 months notice to move out of Grange House Stables. Prior to the start of the 2003 season Paul moved his string, including Indian Haven, a short distance along the Hamilton Road to Green Ridge Stables. Paul announced his retirement in 2021.
2008 Chalice Stakes at Newbury SUZI'S DECISION 15/2 owned by Greenstead Hall Racing Ltd, trained by Paul D'Arcy and ridden by John Egan
2009 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock SUZI'S DECISION 11/2 owned by Greenstead Hall Racing Ltd, trained by Paul D'Arcy and ridden by Pat Smullen
2015 Listed Rose Stakes at York SHADOW HUNTER 33/1 owned by Mrs Jan Harris, trained by Paul D'Arcy and ridden by Philip Makin
While Paul D'Arcy occupied Charnwood Stables, John Butler trained from neighbouring Charnwood Bungalow Stables. In 2017 he had one of his most successful years, winning 33 races, and continued that momentum in early 2018 until his career had a setback, but by the 2021 season he had returned to the training ranks.
