In the early 1970s Lester Piggott purchased Eve Lodge Stables on the Hamilton Road, initially to rent out, but with the long-term target to train there himself.
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.
1973-1975 Ben Hanbury
Ben Hanbury, son of jockey and trainer Tom Hanbury, was born in Oxford on 25th March 1946 and rode his first winner, as an amateur jockey, at Dundalk on 23rd May 1964 when partnering Volcano. He was unable to make a living out of being a jockey, although he did ride almost 80 winners in his short riding career. His most celebrated win was aboard French March in the 1967 Mildmay of Fleet Challenge Cup, while his sole ride in the 1968 Grand National, won by Red Alligator, was aboard Dr M L Slotover's Master of Art (100/7), although he refused at the 27th fence. In 1973 he successfully applied for a trainer's licence, and leased the 80 boxes of Eve Lodge Stables from Lester Piggott while his new Diomed stables were being built, but in 1975 he moved to Diomed Stables where he spent the majority of his training career from where he saddled over 900 winners. Once Ben had vacated Eve Lodge Bill Marshall took out a 3-year lease from Piggott.
1975-1980 Bill Marshall
William Cyril Marshall, universally known as Bill, was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Wednesday 14th August 1918 and was raised on a farm near Chichester where he developed his love of horses. After he had completed just part of his education, and having ridden his first point-to-point winner aged just 12, he fled to Australia rather than being sent off to public school in Rugby, where he became a jockey, but within a few years he had switched to South Africa, initially working in a gold mine to accumulate some money, before training horses in Johannesburg until the War intervened. During the War he returned to England and joined the RAF, flying Spitfires and Hurricanes whilst fighting in the Battle of Britain, although he was shot down on two occasions during the War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After the War had ended Marshall rode as an amateur until 1950 whilst continuing his training career, initially with a few National Hunt horses, but soon switched to more lucrative flat racing. One of his most successful training periods was at Whitsbury from 1970 to 1975, saddling over 220 Flat race winners and 44 over the jumps. However, his career and life nearly came to an abrupt end at Newbury racecourse in 1972 when the small plane he and his wife Pamela were in crashed, burst into flames killing the pilot. Jockey Joe Mercer was also in the plane and was thrown clear, heroically returning to free Bill Marshall, Pamela and the racehorse owner John Howard, who was also a passenger. During his spell at Whitsbury he trained Grey Mirage, The Blues, who won the Haydock Sprint Cup, and Adams Pet who landed the Free Handicap, 2000 Guineas Trial and Windsor Castle Stakes. Without doubt the two horses which put Bill's name on the map during this period were Raffingora and My Swanee. My Swannee, a grey, won 6 handicap races in 1969, gradually climbing the handicap, while Raffingora, also a grey, won 17 of his 28 races, including an Epsom sprint race on Derby Day in 1970. In November 1975 Bill decided to up sticks and move to Newmarket, initially taking out a three-year lease on Eve Lodge Stables owned by his life-long firend Lester Piggott. It was a productive time of his career, ably supported by son Richard who was his stable jockey. Marshall remained at Eve Lodge for 5 years until August 1980 and then took the gamble of his life, deciding at the age of 63 to move to Barbados to train. It was a gamble which paid off in spectacular fashion, winning the Barbados Gold Cup on 7 occasions and the Barbados Derby no less than 9 times. Furthermore, he won the 1989 Barbados Triple Crown with Coo Bird, was champion trainer in Barbados on 11 occasions and was awarded the highest of horse racing honours, the Silver Crown of Merit. Bill died in Barbados on Tuesday 1st November 2005 aged 87, continuing to train right up to the time of his death. His jockey son Richard died on 17th March 2015 aged just 63.
1981-84 Michael Albina
In 1981 Lester Piggott rented out to Eve Lodge to Michael Albina, who had trained more than 800 winners in the Middle East before arriving in Newmarket. Michael was the principal trainer for Mahmoud Foustok until 1983, but in the 1984 season Foustok employed the crack French trainer Olivier Douieb to train his horses at Oak Tree Stables, now named Gainsborough Stables.
1985-September 1987 Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott retired as a jockey at the end of the 1985 season and launched his training career at Eve Lodge which, at that time, had 97 boxes. He sent out 34 winners before his training career was interrupted by a tax dispute with the Inland Revenue. Although he was sentenced to 3 years, he actually served a year and a day, and by 1990 he had relaunched his riding career.
1986 Coventry Stakes CUTTING BLADE 11/1 trained by Lester Piggott and ridden by Cash Asmussen
October 1987-1995 Susan Piggott
In October 1987 Susan Piggott, Lester's wife, was granted a temporary licence in order to take charge at Eve Lodge, and by January 1988 the Jockey Club had granted a full licence. She was the daughter of former Newmarket trainer Sam Armstrong and enjoyed early successes in her training career. The highlight of her career was winning the Group 2 Jacobs Goldene Peotsche at Baden-Baden with Nicholas when ridden by Lester Piggott. She trained at Eve Lodge for 8 years before retiring at the end of the 1995 season, but vowed to remain in racing by supporting her daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and William Haggas,
1991 Jacobs Goldene Peitsche NICHOLAS trained by Susan Piggott and ridden by Lester Piggott
November 1994 Gay Kelleway
Gay Kelleway, daughter of the late jockey and trainer Paul Kelleway, began training in her own right at Charnwood Stables in 1992, 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.
2004-2014 James Toller, Gill Duffield
Between 2004 and 2014 James Toller leased Eve Lodge Stables from Lester Piggott. James was born into a racing family, being the son of the former Bath, Chester and Newbury Clerk of the Course Charles Toller. James began at Bernard Van Cutsem's stable as assistant, followed by time in America and Australia to gain experience. When he returned to Newmarket he was assistant to Luca Cumani at Bedford House Stables. During his time at Eve Lodge he was joined by Gill Duffield who trained Arab race horses. In April 2014 Lester Piggott put Eve Lodge Stables on the market with a price tag of £1.25 million. The estate agents advert confirmed that it is set in 5 acres and, at the time, contained 95 stables, as well as an indoor arena, extensive paddocks and a manager's house. Also included in the sale were 4 two-bedroom cottages and a main 3 bedroomed house.
1993 Wokingham Stakes NAGIDA 11/1 owned by Miss U D Toller, trained by James Toller and ridden by Jason Weaver
1997 July Cup COMPTON PLACE 50/1 owned by the Duke of Devonshire, trained by James Toller and ridden by Seb Sanders
2004 Irish 2000 Guineas BACHELOR DUKE (SR 1872) 12/1 owned by the Duke of Devonshire, trained by James Toller and ridden by Seb Sanders
On 1st December 2016 Eve Lodge Stables sold for £1.1 million.
2016 Ed Walker
Ed Walker, former assistant trainer to both Roger Charlton and Luca Cumani, began training in his own right in 2010. In October 2010 he moved to the 24 box Authorized Yard at St Gatien, where he won the Listed Hyde Stakes in November 2010 at Kempton Park when Riggins dead-heated with Fanunalter. In December 2012 he transferred to Grange House Stables, where he trained for just one season, before leasing Warren Place in December 2013 after the death of Sir Henry Cecil. During his time at Warren Place he trained the 2014 Bengough Stakes winner Lightning Moon, while in 2015 he achieved Group 1 successes with Stormy Antarctic and Mutatis Mutandis. In 2016 he moved to Eve Lodge Stables, his fourth different stable in as many years, remaining there until the end of the season. In December 2016 he left Newmarket, bound for Lambourn, continuing his training career at Kingsdown Stables in Upper Lambourn.
2016 Craven Stakes STORMY ANTARCTIC 9/2 owned by P K Siu, trained by Ed Walker and ridden by George Baker
2015-2018 George Peckham
In 2017, once Ed Walker departed for Upper Lambourn, his great friend and assistant, George Peckham, took over. George spent a gap year before embarking on a college course, working for 6 months at Giles Bravery's yard in Newmarket and a further 6 months at Gainsborough Farm in Kentucky. He then began his course at the Royal Agricultural College and, after graduating, he gained invaluable experience with Andrew Balding and Mick Channon before travelling to Australia to join the racing establishment of John O'Shea. After his return to England, and to Newmarket, he was assistant to Ed Dunlop at La Grange Stables, after which he thought the time was right to launch his own training career in 2014. It is always a sign of bright future prospects when a yard has decent two-year-olds in its ranks and George had a number worthy of note in his early days. His stable star in the first 3 years was Inshiraah who won on 3 occasions, twice at Headquarters.
2017 Adnams Fillies Handicap at Newmarket INSHIRAAH 9/4 owned by Fawzi Abdulla Nass, trained by George Peckham and ridden by Harry Bentley
2017 Spa at Bedford Lodge Fillies Handicap at Newmarket INSHIRAAH 7/1 owned by Fawzi Abdulla Naas, trained by George Peckham and ridden by K T O'Neill
October 2019-to present George Scott
In October 2019 George Scott took up residence at Eve Lodge having spent 4 years training at Saffron House Stables. He launched his training career in November 2015 and enjoyed his time at Saffron House, where his best horse was James Garfield who won the 2017 Mill Reef Stakes and 2018 Greenham Stakes.
2017 Mill Reef Stakes JAMES GARFIELD 100/30 owned by W J and T C O Gredley, trained by George Scott and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2018 Greenham Stakes JAMES GARFIELD 3/1 owned by W J and T C O Gredley, trained by George Scott and ridden by Frankie Dettori
BACHELOR DUKE (2004 Irish 2000 Guineas)
COMPTON PLACE (1997 July Cup)
CUTTING BLADE (1986 Coventry Stakes)
JAMES GARFIELD (2017 Mill Reef Stakes, 2018 Greenham Stakes)
STORMY ANTARCTIC (2016 Craven Stakes)
