The dawn of a new era at Newbury Racecourse

Since Newbury Racecourse held its first race in 1905, it has become established as one of Britain’s leading tracks. With up to 30 days of top-class Jump and Flat racing annually, the course offers something for everyone.

 at As a stage for some of the best racing in the country, it has come to be regarded as one of the fairest courses in the country. The racecourse was built after local trainer John Porter identified the land, located next to the Great Western Railway, as being ideal for a racecourse. He obtained an option to purchase before presenting his proposal to the Jockey Club. Initially turned down, he was given a second chance when he shared his plans with King Edward VII whose influence got Porter another interview with the stewards who eventually approved his plans.

During World War I Newbury was used as a prisoner of war camp, a hay dispersal centre, a munitions inspection depot and a tank testing and repair park. Racing continued for a time in difficult circumstances during World War II despite several areas being requisitioned but then ceased after the summer of 1941 when it became a base for the US army for whom it was a major supply depot.

This took up the entire racecourse while at the same time the stables were occupied by prisoners of war. The track was not released from these commitments until 1947 and a huge clear-up exercise was needed before the course was fit to be used as a racecourse again which included a massive re-turfing programme which enabled racing to resume in 1949.

The effort was led by Geoffrey Freer, who like John Porter, has a race named after him in recognition of his role. The highlight of Newbury’s Jump season is the £250,000 Ladbrokes Trophy, a handicap chase over an extended three and a quarter mile run in late November or early December.

The race was known as the Hennessy Gold Cup until 2016 when the drinks brand brought an end to racing’s longest commercial sponsorship after the 60th running. Always a glamorous day out with high fashion on show as well as a celebrity or two. Peggy Hennessy, a member of the sponsoring company’s family, owned the first dual winner of the race Mandarin, a feat achieved only twice more by two of the all-time greats of racing.

Arkle won the race in 1964 and 1965 while Denman matched him with victories in 2007 and 2009. Both horses won under top weight each time. The race is generally considered one of the early trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with nine winners of the Ladbrokes Trophy going on to win the big race in March. Many Clouds is the only horse to win both the Hennessy and the Grand National.

In February of each year, Newbury hosts Betfair Super Saturday which includes the most valuable handicap hurdle run in Britain, the Betfair Hurdle. The meeting also features the Game Spirit and Denman Chases which have been won by the likes of Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Denman, Coneygree and Native River. On the flat, the highlight of Newbury’s summer season is the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes in May, a Group 1 race staged over a straight mile worth an impressive £350,000.

First staged in 1958 as a high-quality mile race and open to three-year-olds, the first running was won by Pall Mall, who was owned by regular Newbury visitor, Her Majesty the Queen and went on to win the 2,000 Guineas. Her Majesty has had no less than 67 winners at the Berkshire course since her first win in 1958. The Lockinge earned Group 2 status when the Pattern was created in 1971 and was raised to Group 1 level in 1995 at which point it was closed to three-year-olds.

Raised to Group 1 in 1955, notable winners include the great Brigadier Gerard in 1972 and Hawk Wing who landed the race by 11 lengths in 2003 but, neither are remembered as fondly as Frankel who began his three and four-year-old seasons at Newbury. During an unbeaten career, Frankel raced at Newbury twice, winning the Greenham Stakes, the leading Classic trial, by four lengths in 2011 and the following year landing the Lockinge by five lengths.

The racecourse is also a thriving events venue, hosting a huge range of activities including weddings, concerts, and conferences for 20 to 1,000 attendees for a wide spectrum of businesses and organisations in stunning surroundings. In addition, it runs a successful private nursery, providing a safe, happy and stimulating learning environment for many preschool children.

Over the last three years, Newbury has been undergoing a £20-million ‘heartspace’ redevelopment, which is now almost complete. Be it equine or human, the course has been reshaped with everyone in mind. A new stabling and reformed pre-parade ring offer state of the art facilities for the horses while a relandscaped parade ring and winner’s enclosure provides racegoers with an enhanced and improved view of the action.

Additional seating areas and new bars including, the Many Clouds champagne pod is well worth a visit with the new Stables Bar coming in the summer and offering a more relaxed space for racegoers to enjoy the action overlooking the parade ring. The new Owners Club facility is one big enhancement for the course and received positively by both owners and trainers since it opened in November 2017.

A fantastic lawn terrace and large balcony on the first floor offering a panoramic view over both the pre-parade ring and paddock plus a 200- seat restaurant and large bar area all contribute to the experience.