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.
Noel travelled from Ireland to Newmarket in 1985, while Michael continued to ride as an amateur jockey in his native Ireland. Michael travelled across to join Noel in 1999. The two brothers jointly trained at Athnid Stables, although the Jockey Club rules allowed for only one of them to hold the licence. Michael was the licence holder until 2011, after which the licence passed to brother Noel. In 2011 Michael transferred his trainer's licence to brother Noel, although the two continued to work hand in hand at Athnid Stables. Despite his undoubted talent and many successes, Michael became depressed, and on Sunday 7th April 2013 Michael tragically took his own life. He possessed a rare talent in being able to prepare an unfancied horse for the big occasion on both codes, audaciously pulling off big priced wins in some of the highest profile races at Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree.
National Hunt successes
The brothers had an equal love of Flat and National Hunt racing, and were successful under each code. Michael trained Dev to win the 2009 Sefton Chase, traditionally contested over the Grand National fences at the November Becher meeting, although of late it has switched to December. In the hands of Jamie Moore, Dev ran on strongly to defeat Pak Jack and Craiglands by 1 1/2 lengths and 8 lengths. Earlier in the year Michael celebrated arguably his most important National Hunt success when winning the Grade 3 Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle over 2 miles and 87 yards of the old course at the Cheltenham Festival with Silk Affair. Piloted by Tom O'Brien, Silk Affair beat Ski Sunday and Saticon by 3 lengths and 3/4 length.
Flat race successes
The previous year Michael had shown his versatility as a trainer by landing the Queen Mary over 5 furlongs at Royal Ascot with Langs Lash (25/1) when ridden to victory by Alan Munro by a neck and head from Shyrl and Connie Mac. Two years prior to his Royal Ascot victory, Michael Quinlan had given an indication of his ability when Dixie Belle won the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy at Newbury at the rewarding odds of 50/1. A further two years beforehand he had aimed high with his colt Frank Sonata, who gained victories at Haydock and York before Michael targeted the St Leger. Frank Sonata was not unfancied at 16/1 for the final Classic of the season, but finished last behind the Godolphin owned, Saeed bin Suroor trained Rule of Law (SR 1942).
2004 Haydock Sharp Minds Betfair Rated Stakes FRANK SONATA (11/2) owned by Adams, Flynn and Arnold, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Ryan Moore
2004 H20 July Trophy FRANK SONATA (100/30) owned by Adams, Flynn and Arnold, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Ryan Moore
2004 St Leger FRANK SONATA (16/1) 9th and last behind Rule of Law when owned by Adams, Flynn and Arnold, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Ryan Moore
2006 Rathbarry Studs Barathea Finale Stakes at the Curragh FRANK SONATA (12/1) owned by W P Flynn, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Tom Queally
2006 Dubai International Airport World Trophy (Group 3) DIXIE BELLE (50/1) owned by Burns Farm Racing, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Tom Queally
2008 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot LANGS LASH (25/1) owned by John Hanly, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Alan Munro
2009 Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Hurdle SILK AFFAIR (11/1) owned by L Mulryan and M C Fahy, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Tom O’Brien
2009 Sefton Chase at Aintree DEV (14/1) owned by L Mulryan, trained by Michael Quinlan and ridden by Jamie Moore
1999-2003 D J Cosgrove
In the Newmarket Trainer's Directory D J Cosgrove was listed at The Corner House, Jamesfield Place at the start of the new millennium. He trained a number of winners on the all-weather tracks of Southwell, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton, including Allenwood, Prince of the Wood and In Spirit.
2011-present James Tate
Today Jamesfield Place is a modern red-bricked yard which was built in 1988. It is well-equipped with an indoor school, two horse-walkers and a nursery paddock, as well as an equine swimming pool available in the vicinity of the yard. The current incumbent is James Tate, ably supported by his wife Lucinda. They both have a background in racing, each with fathers as trainers. Tom Tate was a successful trainer who achieved Grade One successes, while Lucinda's father, Lenny Lungo, was a jockey before he launched his successful training career, achieving well over 600 winners when based at Dumfries. James began in the point-to-point world before he became an amateur jockey whilst, at the same time, completing a veterinary degree from Glasgow University. He was assistant to master Middleham trainer Mark Johnston between 2005 and 2011, gaining sufficient experience to take out his own trainer's licence in October 2011. He became the private trainer for Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd in 2011, saddling his first winner just before Christmas 2011. In 2015 he achieved numerous Listed race victories, including big priced wins in the Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock with 28/1 Blhadawa, and River Eden Stakes winner Urban Castle at 16/1. In 2017 he gained his first Group 3 success with Invincible Army who captured the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton. At the November 2018 meeting of the Newmarket Town Council, there were no objections raised to the planning application for the creation of an equine swimming pool at Jamesfield Place. In 2019 he gained a Group 2 success when Invincible Army won the Duke of York Stakes on the Knavesmire.
2015 Cecil Frail Stakes BLHADAWA 28/1 owned by Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, trained by James Tate and ridden by Luke Morris
2015 Fleur De Lys Stakes LAMAR 7/2 owned by Saif Ali, trained by James Tate and ridden by Luke Morris
2015 River Eden Stakes URBAN CASTLE 16/1 owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by Adam Kirby
2017 Washington Singer Stakes HEY GAMAN 100/30 owned by Sultan Ali, trained by James Tate and ridden by Martin Harley
2017 International Trial Stakes LAW & ORDER 11/4 owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by Martin Harley
2017 Sirenia Stakes INVINCIBLE ARMY 11/8 fav owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by Martin Harley
2018 Scurry Stakes HADDAF 5/1 owned by Saif Ali, trained by James Tate and ridden by James Doyle
2018 Pavillion Stakes INVINCIBLE ARMY 11/8 fav owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by Ryan Moore
2019 Cammidge Trophy INVINCIBLE ARMY 4/1 owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by P J McDonald
2019 King Richard III Stakes HEY GAMAN 9/4 fav owned by Sultan Ali, trained by James Tate and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2019 Glasgow Stakes SAMEEM 7/2 owned by Sultan Ali, trained by James Tate and ridden by David Allan
2019 Duke of York Stakes INVINCIBLE ARMY 7/2 jt fav owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by P J McDonald
2019 Princess Margaret Stakes UNDER THE STARS 25/1 owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by P J McDonald
2019 Chipchase Stakes INVINCIBLE ARMY 10/11 fav owned by Saeed Manana, trained by James Tate and ridden by P J McDonald
