Hamilton Road stables
In the mid-1960s a vast area of land, owned by the Jockey Club, close to the Heath, gallops and Rowley Mile course, was earmarked by the Jockey Club to form part of a massive venture aimed at increasing the number of stables in Newmarket, On the Hamilton Road plans were presented for the new stables, and the first to take advantage of the new scheme was former champion jockey turned trainer, Doug Smith. In December 1967, three days before Christmas, Doug announced that he would be moving his string of 30 horses from the yard of his former master, Geoff Brooke, and relocating to a gleaming new yard, the first of several offered to prospective tenants by the Jockey Club. Over half a century on, in 2020 the Hamilton Road contained in excess of 25 such racing establishments, many having changed owners, trainers and stable names on a regular basis since Doug Smith first occupied Cedar Lodge Stables back in early 1968. They offer direct and easy access to all of the Jockey Club Estates facilities and gallops, all within easy reach of the Warren Hill gallops. The Jockey Club cares for 2500 acres of maintained gallops, which includes over 50 miles of turf gallops, and since those early days of 1967 many Classic winners have been sent out from the wide array of Hamilton Road Stables.
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.
The Southgate racing establishment on the Hamilton Road was, at one time, divided into 3 separate yards, but over time it has flitted between a single yard and up to 3 yards. The complex is located on the racecourse and gallops side of the Hamilton Road, providing easy access to the extensive Jockey Club gallops. To the right of Southgate Stables is Cedar Lodge, while on the left is Southgate Barn, Chestnut Tree Stables and Saffron Stables.
2007-2018 Mick Quinn
Mick Quinn, at one time a professional footballer, turned his hand to training racehorses. He is not the first to have trodden that career path, as former England footballer Mick Channon has been an incredibly successful trainer for a number of years. Mick had trained at Southgate Barn Stables on the Hamilton Road for over 10 years, having rented it from Willie Carson, but towards the end of 2017 Amy Murphy purchased the Southgate Stables which included the Southgate Barn, so Mick had to find an alternative. He decided to rent 16 boxes from Rae Guest at Chestnut Tree Stables.
May 2018-present Amy Murphy
Amy Murphy studied for a Diploma in Horse Management at Hartpury College, but found the time to ride out for Dr Richard Newland and Nicky Henderson. After gaining triple distinction in her Diploma she embarked on a path which would lead her to become the youngest trainer at racing's Headquarters. She began working at Manor House Stables in Cheshire, owned by ex-footballer Michael Owen, and overseen by trainer Tom Dascombe. She was made Pupil Assistant in double-quick time, part of her role being to accompany horses to Deauville for their Summer meetings. She spent 2 years with Tom Dacsombe before widening her experience by taking a 6-month placement in Australia in 2012, basing herself with legendary Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse. She returned to the UK in April 2013, taking on the Pupil Assistant role at Luca Cumani's Bedford House Stables. In January 2015 she was promoted to Assistant Trainer, and successfully applied for her own licence in August 2016. Amy began by renting a few boxes from Michael Wigham at Hamilton Stables until the opportunity arose to purchase Southgate Stables from Willie Carson. She took charge of Southgate Stables in 2018, and planned to make use of all of the boxes on the site, which meant Mick Quinn leaving Southgate Barn Stables, and Tony Carson transferring to nearby Cedar Lodge Stables.
