1850-1870 Robert Matthew Stephenson
The name Stephenson was as famous in Newmarket in the late 18th and for the majority of the 19th century as Jarvis, Lambton, Leader and Dawson in more recent times. Thomas Stephenson, a former racehorse trainer, lived out his retirement in Terrace House until his death on 19th September 1897. He had trained at 194 High Street, then known as Clarendon House Stables, before retiring and relocating just along the road. It is not clear whether he was a member of the Stephenson racing dynasty which included Matthew Stephenson, who famously trained the 1791 Epsom Derby winner Eager (SR 1997) which he also rode at the ripe old age of 56. Matthew also trained two other Derby winners, Skyscraper (SR 1969) in 1789, and the Colt by Fidget (SR 1936) in 1797. In addition, Matthew trained 3 Epsom Oaks winners, 1790 Hippolyta (SR 1890), 1791 Portia (SR 1955) and 1793 Caelia (SR 1908). Matthew's grandson, Robert Matthew Stephenson was also a racehorse trainer in Newmarket. Early records indicate that Robert Matthew Stephenson lived at Fitzroy house until his death in 1870, after which the House was bought by Claude-Joachim Lefevre.
At the 1850 Royal Ascot meeting Newmarket Stables won just under half of the first-place prize money, out-performing Middleham and other prominent racing centres. Four different Newmarket Stables provided winners, with Robert Stephenson leading the way with 2 victories.
Robert Stephenson
Ascot Stakes:-WANOTA (3/1 jt fav)
Wokingham Handicap:-WALLFLOWER (5/2)
William Harlock
St James's Palace Stakes:-NUTCRACKER (3/1)
W Beresford
Coronation Stakes:-SLANE colt (5/4 fav)
Mathew Dawson
Triennial Stakes 1st Leg (Chesham):-MISIERRIMA (6/1)
June 1870-December 1872 Monsieur Claude-Joachim Lefevre, John Benjamin Pryor
In June 1870, after the death of Robert Matthew Stephenson, Fitzroy House, with stabling for 17 horses and several acres of excellent paddocks, was put up for sale. The Classic winning French owner Claud-Joachim Lefevre was in residence for some of the next two years, using John Benjamin Pryor as his trainer, while he was having nearby Sefton Lodge built, although his horses were trained by Tom Jennings at La Grange. When Sefton Lodge was ready to be occupied in 1873 Claude left Fitzroy House and was replaced by William S Martin.
1871 Ascot Gold Cup MORTEMER (evens fav) owned by Claude Joachim Lefevre, trained by Tom Jennings and ridden by George Fordham
1872 1000 Guineas REINE 100/6 (SR 1919) owned by Claude Joachim Lefevre, trained by Tom Jennings and ridden by Henry Parry
1872 Epsom Oaks REINE 5/2 fav (SR 1919) owned by Claude Joachim Lefevre, trained by Tom Jennings and ridden by George Fordham
1872 Ascot Gold Cup HENRY (6/1) owned by Claude Joachim Lefevre, trained by Tom Jennings and ridden by George Fordham
William Scott Martin, born at Great Swaffham, Cambridgeshire in 1817, was the son of William Martin and Sarah Scott who had married at Swaffham Prior in 1816. His early racing career was spent with Mr Stanlake Batson at Horseheath Lodge who owned the legendary Plenipotentiary, trained, partly there and partly at Brocklesby Park in Lincolnshire, by George Payne. William Martin is said to have been the lad who rode the great colt on his unfortunate journey to Doncaster. Plenipotentiary's jockey Pat Conolly, after the colt's defeat in the St Leger, made it clear he was unhappy with Payne's handling of the horse. Martin moved to Newmarket to train for Lord William Powlett in the late 1850s, and in 1859 he proceeded to Mr Harvey Combe's old stable. In March 1864 he moved into Exeter House to train for the Duke of Cleveland, the lease of the yard being in the trainer's name. In August 1865 he became a public trainer at the yard and advertised for further horses, his owners including Mr Percy, Mr Craven, Lord Howth and himself. His wife died at Exeter House in 1869, but Martin remained there until July 1873 when he bought Fitzroy House and its paddocks. Martin remained at Fitzroy until October 1895, but leased it to Patrick Connolly for a period, and also to Tom Chaloner
Tom O Chaloner, born in 1866, was the oldest son of Tom and Ellen Chaloner, and trained at Middleham and Newmarket. When Tom senior died at the young age of 46 in 1886 his mother Ellen, just 43 at the time and with 8 children to raise, took over at Osborne House, successfully applying for a trainer's licence, although it appears Tom junior had to be the registered trainer. Indeed, one of the controversial winners trained at Osborne House was his first winner as a trainer, Jacob, who won 2 races on consecutive days at Hampton Court racecourse in 1886. He married Jem Godding''s daughter in early 1888 and took stables at Fitzroy House where hestarted training for Mr R Williamson that October. He soon moved on to Cavendish House in 1889. He later went on to train at Stockbridge House from 1890, training Marco to win the 1895 Cambridgeshire for owner Mr Francis Luscombe.
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.
1900-1907 Weston Goodwin
At the turn of the century Weston Goodwin trained at Bloomsbury Cottage as private trainer to the Duke of Devonshire, although it is unclear whether he shared the site with George Ashby. Weston was the son of William Goodwin, Classic winning trainer, and his wife Lizzie Goodwin. They had four children who were all involved in racing, but at some stage the marriage broke down and Lizzie remarried William Wright. William Goodwin, father of Weston, won the 1850 Epsom Oaks with Rhedycina (SR 1840) and the 1854 Epsom Oaks with Mincemeat (SR 1825). Head lad to Weston Goodwin was Lew Warner, who also took charge at the Rutland Yard which Weston used. Weston's most prestigious winner whilst at Bloomsbury Cottage Stables was 1902 Eclipse Stakes winner Cheers owned by the Duke of Devonshire. Weston Goodwin was listed at Fitzroy House, moving there in 1903 to continue training for the Duke of Devonshire after leaving Bloomsbury Cottage Stables. However, it is clear that Weston Goodwin had a close association with Fitzroy House from 1900 onwards, for the Sporting Life, in its 'Horses For Sale' section, listed many horses which could be seen by contacting Weston Goodwin at Fitzroy House. Whilst at Fitzroy House his most famous victory was winning the Liverpool St Leger with Burgundy in 1904. In July 1906 the Sporting Life listed all of the Newmarket Stables together with their respective trainers. In October 1906 the Duke moved all of his horses from Weston Goodwin's charge, sending them instead to be trained by Sam Darling.
1904 Leicestershire October Handicap ALP 8/1 owned by the Duke of Devonshire, trained by Weston Goodwin and ridden by Saxby
1904 Liverpool St Leger BURGUNDY 2/1 owned by the Duke of Devonshire, trained by Weston Goodwin and ridden by Wal Griggs
1906 Chesterfield Nursery Plate HILLSPRITE 7/2 fav owned by the Duke of Devonshire, trained by Weston Goodwin and ridden by Higgs
1907-1910 Juan Torterolo
The South American trainer Torterolo took a lease on Fitzroy House after the departure of Weston Goodwin, training for Lord Woolavington. The Argentinian brothers Juan and Domingo Torterolo, successfully applied for their licence to ride in England in April 1897 and in the early years of the 20th century Juan applied for a trainer's licence. He had a successful period training at Fitzroy House, particularly with Pillo, who he picked up for 430 guineas from a seller, appsing it on to Mr J P Alzola. Much later in his career he trained even more successfully at Chantilly.
1907 County Nursery Handicap at Gatwick, PILLO 7/1 owned by Mr J P Alzola, trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Domingo Torterolo
1907 Old Nursery Stakes at Newmarket PILLO 6/1 owned by Mr J P Alzola, trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Domingo Torterolo
1908 Durdans Plate at Epsom PILLO 100/12 owned by Mr J P Alzola, trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Domingo Torterolo
1908 Great Northern Handicap at York PILLO 8/1 owned by Mr J P Alzola, trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Domingo Torterolo
1909 Felbridge Welter Handicap at Lingfield PELIGROSO 3/1 owned and trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Jimmy Plant
1909 Southern Welter Handicap at Alexandra Park DISSOLUTE 5/1 owned by Mr J P Alzola, trained by Juan Torterolo and ridden by Domingo Torterolo
1911-1912 Honourable Francis Lambton
Before the outbreak of the First World War the Honourable Francis Lambton, brother to the more famous racehorse trainer George Lambton, trained at Fitzroy House in 1911, benefitting from a number of horses owned by Captain Arthur Boyd which he moved from France to support Francis. Francis later transferred to Park Lodge before being tragically killed in action in France. Early in his time at Park Lodge, in August 1912 Francis was charged with the care of the horses of Mr Fairie who decided to move them from Manton.
1911 Bolsover Handicap PHAROS 4/1 owned by Lord Downe, trained by Francis Lambton and ridden by Fred Winter
1911 Ashton Handicap FIRST FLUTTER 3/1 owned by Lord Lonsdale, trained by Francis Lambton and ridden by Fred Winter
1912 Criterion Nursery at Newmarket AUTOCLES 100/6 owned by Mr H Salvin, trained by Francis Lambton and ridden by Vic Smyth
1912 Ditch Mile Handicap at Newmarket PEELO 100/7 owned by Mr H Salvin, trained by Francis Lambton and ridden by Vic Smyth
1912 Grand Stand Handicap at Haydock PHAROS 1/2 fav owned by Lord Downe, trained by Francis Lambton and ridden by Herbert
1913-1925 Robert Sievier, Sir Henry Busby Bird
At various times between 1913 and 1925 the troubled Robert Standish Sievier resided at Fitzroy House and jointly trained at the stables with Sir Henry Busby Bird. Robert Standish, born on 30th May 1860, was a bookmaker, racehorse owner and frequent gambler who was the son of Robert Moore Sievier and his wife Alicia Maria Mary. In 1882 Robert moved to Adelaide where he set himself up as a bookmaker, calling himself Robert Sutton. He was the first bookmaker in the state to stand at a pitch with 2 clerks, the previous tradition was for bookmakers to wander around touting for trade. He found that the betting in Australia was restrictive for punters, with everything in the bookmakers favour. They took cash bets, but settling day was the day after racing, so it meant that they had a steady cashflow, whilst winning punters had to wait to be paid. What was worse was that they only accepted bets on 'This and the next race' terms, which meant that punters had to land a double to be paid. Furthermore, if their first horse won, but the second horse was withdrawn, then it counted as a losing bet. One clerk recorded the bets, while the other paid winning punters immediately after the race. It is not surprising therefore that he reportedly made £70,000 profit in his first year, but by May 1887 he returned to London and served a prison sentence. He then married Lady Mabel Emily Louisa Brundell-Bruce, sister of the Marquis of Aylesbury and they had a son, also called Robert, born in Paris on 13th October 1894, and a daughter. He was sent to prison on 3 more occasions, and had squandered his wife's fortune before the end of the century. In 1902 he owned and trained the great racehorse Sceptre (SR 2078), the only horse to win outright 4 of the 5 English Classics. Initially he sent the filly to be trained by Charles Morton in Wantage, but for her 3-year-old career Sievier trained the horse himself at his stables in Shrewton, Wiltshire. Amazingly, she began her 3-y-o career in the Lincoln Handicap where she was beaten a head by St Maclou. She then won the 2000 Guineas at 4/1 joint favourite, beating Pistol by 3 lengths, followed just 2 days later by a victory in the 1000 Guineas at 1/2 fav, beating St Windeline by 1 1/2 lengths. Disappointingly, she was unable to give her true running in the Epsom Derby due to a bruised foot, she was made the even money favourite but could only manage fourth behind Ard Patrick, Rising Glass and Friar Tuck, but this did not prevent her from lining up in the Oaks just 2 days later, which she won at 5/2 favourite, beating Glass Jug by 3 lengths. She continued to notch up victories, winning the St James's Palace Stakes and Nassau Stakes, rounding the season off by winning the St Leger at 100/30 favourite, beating Rising Glass by 3 lengths. After Sievier gambled heavily on her winning the 1903 Lincoln, where she was fifth behind Over Norton, he had to sell her for £25,000 to Sir William Bass to settle his debts. By the second decade of the 20th century Robert Sievier was training and in residence at Fitzroy House, forming a partnership at one time with Sir Henry Busby Bird, an odd friendship given that Sir Henry was honourable, hard-working and well-respected. He was Mayor of the London Borough of Shoreditch for 12 of the years between 1903 and 1919, commanded the 3rd Royal Fusilliers and raised £4.5 million for the War effort. Such were the ups and downs of Robert Sievier's fortunes that in 1912 he won the Cesarewitch with Warlingham at 33/1 trained by Goodgames at Westbury and ridden by G Clout, while a short few months later he had to sell his entire string of horses at a Kempton Park auction. In June 1918, Robert Brundell Bruce Sievier and Robert Sievier were in court against each other, son against father, the one demanding payment of £250 per annum to reside at Fitzroy House. Robert Standish Sievier was certainly still in residence at Fitzroy House in April 1924, although by then he had been made bankrupt yet again. His life was so colourful that he wrote his autobiography in 1906, a number of travel books and two novels, A Generation in 1895 and Warned Off in 1910. Sir Victor Sassoon purchased Fitzroy House in 1925 and Robert moved to Crawley. He died on 8th October 1939 at Ifield Wood, Crawley, Sussex.
1916 Windsor Village Welter Handicap ROYAL BUCKS 10/1 owned and trained by Robert Sievier and ridden by Jameson
1920 Middlesex Chase at Kempton Park LYDIE WHITE 10/1 owned by Mrs Brownlee, trained by Robert Sievier and ridden by W Smith
1920 July Two-Year-Old Stakes at Newmarket MONARCH 13/8 owned by Sir Henry Bird, trained by Robert Sievier and ridden by Frank Bullock
1917 William Tutte, Mathematician
In 1917 William Tutte was born at Fitzroy House, on Black Bear Lane, where his father worked as a gardener and his mother Anne (nee Newell) as the housekeeper and cook. Bill attended Chieveley Park Primary school and gained a place at Trinity College Cambridge to study mathematics. During the Second World War he worked at Bletchley Park as a codebreaker and mathematician, working alongside Alan Turing. His work helped to break the Lorenz code used by the Nazis to transfer messages. In later life Bill moved to Canada where he died in 2002 aged 84.
1925-1930 Sir Victor Sassoon, Captain James Houston Crawford, Basil Jarvis
Sir Victor Sassoon owned a number of stables and studs in and around the Newmarket area, including Bungalow Stud in 1925 which he renamed Eve Stud Ltd, Eve being a combination of his first two names Ellice and Victor. Much later he also bought Beech House Stud. On 2nd December 1924 his father Edward Elias Sassoon died and Victor inherited great wealth and the title 3rd Baronet of Bombay. With part of his inheritance he was able to purchase Fitzroy House from Sir Henry Busby Bird, and by January 1926 he had installed the former Bishops Canning trainer, Captain James Houston Crawford, into Fitzroy House Stables. Crawford transferred his string of 35 horses from Bishops Canning to Fitzroy House. In 1927 Sir Victor had visions of winning the English Triple Crown with Hot Night when trained by Crawford, although the colt was beaten into second place in the 1927 Epsom Derby by Call Boy (SR 2049), and then ran second to Book Law (SR 1972) in the St Leger, beaten a comfortable 3 lengths. One of the highest profile winners for the Sassoon/Crawford team came in 1928 when Mint Master won the Liverpool St Leger in the hands of Steve Donoghue. Crawford was taken ill on his way to Ireland and died of septic pneumonia on 12 December 1929 in a Marylebone nursing home aged 42. For a short period of time Sir Victor employed Basil Jarvis, but in 1931 he let Fitzroy House to Frank Butters for a nominal rent and returned to manage his business interests in Shanghai.
1925 Piccadilly Welter Handicap at Hurst Park WAYGOOD 100/7 owned by Walter Raphael, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by Charlie Elliott
1926 West Riding Produce Plate at Pontefract PRESTISSIMO 13/8 owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by P Brown
1927 Jolliffe Maiden Plate FLEETING TRACE 9/2 owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by Gordon Richards
1927 Hotham Plate at Hurst Park ROSALIA 5/2 owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by Harry Wragg
1928 Liverpool St Leger MINT MASTER 15/8 owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by Steve Donoghue
1929 Northumberland Autumn Handicap MINT MASTER 9/2 owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, trained by J H Crawford and ridden by Steve Donoghue
Frank Butters, son of racehorse trainer Joe Butters, was born in Austria in 1878 where his father trained for a time, and Frank launched his own training career in Austria before the start of the First World War. Between 1914 and 1918 he was interned, but then moved to Italy to continue training. In 1926 he was enticed by the 17th Earl of Derby to move to England as private trainer at Stanley House, Newmarket where he enjoyed enormous success. In his 4 years at Stanley House he trained Beam (SR 1909) to win the 1927 Epsom Oaks, Toboggan (SR 1990) to win the 1928 Epsom Oaks, Fairway (SR 2125) to win the 1928 St Leger and Fair Isle (SR 1893) to win the 1930 1000 Guineas. However, as the 4 year lease came to an end, and after being crowned Champion Trainer in 1927 and 1928, Lord Derby decided that the economic climate was not right to continue in racing, leaving Frank to lease Fitzroy House and become a public trainer, training for the likes of HH Aga Khan, the 5th Earl of Durham, Prince Aly Khan, Sir Alfred Butt and Mr A W Gordon. Frank was based at Fitzroy House for almost two decades, and having already been crowned Champion Trainer when based at Stanley House, he earned a further 6 Champion Trainer titles in 1932, 1934, 1935, 1944, 1946 and 1949. He was one of the most successful trainers in the history of the turf, winning the Epsom Derby twice, the Irish Derby three times, the Epsom Oaks on 6 occasions, the Doncaster St Leger on 5 occasions, and notched single wins in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas. He claimed that his best horse was Bahram, but he had so many Classic winners to choose from. In 1949 he suffered a bicycle accident which brought to an end his training career, and he died in 1957.
I am grateful to Philippa Castle, granddaughter of Fitzroy House based jockey Edward (Ted) George Banham, for the photograph of the stablelads at Fitzroy House in the early 1930s.
I am grateful to Philippa Castle, granddaughter of jockey and one time trainer Edward (Ted) George Banham. She wrote that Ted Banham first rode in stables in Newmarket in the early 20s before going to South America, in particular Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) to ride, but found it had its shortcomings in terms of sticking to the rules of racing and was not to his liking. He returned to Newmarket to resume his riding career with Basil Jarvis at Green Lodge/Woodland stables. In 1923 Basil Jarvis trained a superstar horse, Papyrus (SR 1985) at Green Lodge, winning the 1923 Epsom Derby and going on to train the horse to run second to Tranquil (SR 1951) in the 1923 St Leger. Straight after the St Leger a challenge was launched by the Americans to match Papyrus against their star horse Zev. Papyrus was shipped to the USA with his own special food mix, his stablemate Bargold, the stable cat, Basil Jarvis, his trainer, Steve Donoghue, his regular jockey, and Ted Banham, his stable lad and work jockey. On Tuesday 9th October 1923 Ted Banham rode Papyrus at Belmont Park in his first exercise since arriving in New York, completing the mile and a quarter gallop in 2 mins 18.4 seconds, while Zev had a gallop over 3 furlongs at the same time. The scene was set for the match, with a bet of 13,000 dollars to 5,000 laid on Zev. There were at least two further pieces of work by Papyrus before the day of the match, each time Ted Banham partnering Papyrus. Many factors were against Papyrus, the long sea voyage, the change in race conditions, the unusual stable environment despite having his cat and stable companion with him. However, the greatest factor against him was that the match took place on the dirt track at Belmont Park, and there was heavy rain the day before the race, so that the track became a sea of mud. The Americans were used to dealing with such conditions, fitting special racing shoes called mud caulks, to Zev, while Papyrus wore his ordinary racing plates. In the event the race, in front of a crowd of 70,000, proved to be a mismatch, and Zev won by an easy 5 lengths. Whilst at Green Lodge Ted realised many of the owners had second winter homes in Kenya in the 20s, providing him with an opportunity. There was limited racing in Kenya at that time, so Ted went to the October sales in Newmarket, purchased 14 thoroughbreds and accompanied them on their journey by sea to Kenya in 1926. Once there he helped extend racing opportunities in Kenya, advising on the building of additional racecourses in the country, and even won an early Kenyan Derby in 1928, a race which was first run in 1914. Racing first took place in Kenya in 1904 at Machakos, although at that time it was with small ponies rather than thoroughbreds. It was later extended to include meetings at Kariokor, and then Eldoret, Nakuru, Nanyuki and Limuru. He set himself up as a trainer, whilst also riding for all the UK wealthy expats in Kenya who he had previously ridden for in the UK. In 1930 he returned to England and joined the yard of Frank Butters at Fitzroy House, Newmarket where the Aga Khan, and his successor Prince Aly Khan, had horses. He also rode for Sir Alfred Butt whilst at the yard. On Thursday 19th March 1931 an important Lincoln trial over 7 furlongs took place at Newmarket when Captain Whitaker's Knight Error, ridden by Freddie Fox, beat Whoopee (McCaffery), Lord Marcus (Dickens) and Rossignol ridden by Ted Banham. It proved to be the most influential of all the trials because a few days later in the Lincolnshire Handicap at Lincoln Knight Error (100/9) beat Rattlin The Reefer (33/1) and Telasaur (28/1).
1932 Coronation Stakes UDAIPUR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters
1932 Richmond Stakes UDAIPUR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters
1932 Richmond Stakes UDAIPUR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters
1932 Newmarket Oaks UDAIPUR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters
1932 Jockey Club Stakes FIRDAUSSI owned by HH Aga Khan and trained by Frank Butters
1932 Epsom Oaks UDAIPUR (SR 1873) 10/1 owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Michael Beary
1932 St Leger FIRDAUSSI (SR 1889) 20/1 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Freddie Fox
1933 Champion Stakes DASTUR (dead-heated with Chatelaine) owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Michael Beary
1934 Dewhurst Stakes HAIRAN owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Freddie Fox
1934 Epsom Oaks LIGHT BROCADE (SR 1956) 7/4 fav owned by 5th Earl of Durham, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Brownie Carslake
1934 Champion Stakes UMIDWAR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Freddie Fox
1935 2000 Guineas BAHRAM (SR 2110) 7/2 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Freddie Fox
1935 Epsom Derby BAHRAM (SR 2110) 5/4 fav owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Freddie Fox
1935 Dewhurst Stakes BALA HISSAR owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1935 St Leger BAHRAM (SR 2110) 4/9 fav owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1936 Epsom Derby MAHMOUD (SR 2020) 11/2 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1936 Dewhurst Stakes SULTAN MOHAMED owned by Prince Aly Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1940 Irish Derby TURKHAN (SR 1968) 4/11 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1940 St Leger TURKHAN (SR 1968) 4/1 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1942 Dewhurst Stakes UMIDDAD owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Doug Smith
1943 Champion Stakes NASRULLAH owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1944 St Leger TEHRAN (SR 2081) 9/2 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1946 Dewhurst Stakes MIGOLI 5/1 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1947 Champion Stakes MIGOLI owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Gordon Richards
1947 Eclipse Stakes MIGOLI 7/2 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1948 Epsom Oaks MASAKA (SR 1952) 7/1 owned by HH Aga Khan, owned by Frank Butters and ridden by Billy Nevett
1948 Irish Derby NATHOO (SR 1968) 7/2 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Rae Johnstone
1948 Irish Oaks MASAKA (SR 1952) Evens fav owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Aubrey Brabazon
1948 Eclipse Stakes PETITION 8/1 owned by Sir Alfred Butt, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Ken Gethin
1948 Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe MIGOLI owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1949 Irish Derby HINDOSTAN (SR 1971) 7/1 owned by HH Aga Khan, trained by Frank Butters and ridden by Rae Johnstone
November 1949-1962 Marcus Marsh
Marcus Maskell Marsh, son of Classic winning trainer Richard Marsh, was born in 1904 and followed in his father's footsteps, landing his first English Classic victory with Windsor Lad (SR 2100) in the 1934 Epsom Derby when training in Lambourn, followed just 3 months later in the St Leger. He had learnt his trade from his uncle, Fred Darling, before moving on as assistant to Captain Richard Gooch at Hodcott House, West Ilsley. In November 1949 he took the brave decision to transfer from Egerton Stables,Newmarket where he had run a highly successful stable, taking charge at Fitzroy House Stables, but also using Stockbridge House stables as an overflow yard. It paid almost immediate dividend when he won the 1950 2000 Guineas with Palestine and was crowned British Flat Racing Champion Trainer in 1952 on the back of a dual Derby and St Leger victory by Tulyar (SR 2075). Marcus Marsh trained for over 40 years, including a final move to Somerville Lodge, before announcing his retirement in 1964, and then enjoyed 19 years of retirement during which time he wrote his autobiography, Racing with the Gods, in 1968.
1950 2000 Guineas PALESTINE (SR 1973) 4/1 owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1950 St James's Palace Stakes PALESTINE 4/7 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1950 Sussex Stakes PALESTINE 1/2 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1952 Lingfield Derby Trial TULYAR 4/1 owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1952 Epsom Derby TULYAR (SR 2075) 11/2 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1952 Eclipse Stakes TULYAR 1/3 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1952 Ormonde Stakes TULYAR owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Doug Smith
1952 St Leger TULYAR (SR 2075) 10/11 fav owned by HH Aga Khan III, trained by Marcus Marsh and ridden by Charlie Smirke
At the 1950 Royal Ascot meeting Newmarket Stables won just under half of the first-place prize money, out-performing Lambourn/Ilsley, France, Ireland and other prominent racing centres. Nine different Newmarket Stables provided winners, with Marcus Marsh leading the way with 4 victories.
Marcus Marsh
Wokingham Handicap:-BLUE BOOK (100/6)
Ribblesdale Stakes:-LA BAILLE (15/2)
Coronation Stakes:-TAMBARA (6/5 fav)
St James's Palace Stakes:-PALESTINE (4/7 fav)
Harry Wragg
Churchill Stakes:-JAI MAHAL (7/2 jt fav)
New Stakes (Norfolk Stakes):-BAY MEADOWS (4/1)
Chesham Stakes:-BAKSHISHI (5/2)
Herbert Blagrave
Ascot Stakes:-HONORABLE II (100/7)
Cecil Boyd-Rochfort
Jersey Stakes:-DOUBLE ECLIPSE (6/5 fav)
Coventry Stakes:-BIG DIPPER (2/1)
Jack Jarvis
Hardwicke Stakes:-PETER FLOWER (6/5 fav)
Colonel Dick Warden
Bessborough Stakes:-RUMPELSTILSKIN (15/2)
Alec Waugh
Britannia Stakes:-KELLING (100/8)
Norman Bertie
Windsor Castle Stakes:-STOKES (5/1)
Reg Day
Queen Mary Stakes:-ROSE LINNET (10/1)
1962-January 1972 John Waugh, Sir Robin McAlpine
John Waugh, who had previously been assistant trainer to George Colling, became private trainer to Sir Robin McAlpine at Fitzroy House, registering an early success in the Newbury Spring Cup with Pardoner. Mc Alpine joined the Jockey Club in 1961, and was the longest serving president of the Racehorse Owners Association between 1960 and 1969. In 1963 the Jockey Club purchased a set of 4 starting stalls and made them available to trainers for schooling two-year-olds. John Waugh encouraged Sir Robin to have his own set of stalls, built to the specification of Ted Wood, an expert from New Zealand. Sir Robin had realised that there were valuable, early season two-year-old races to be won in fashionable Deauville, where starting stalls were in full-time use. During the late 1950s and 1960s Sir Robin enjoyed much success, particularly with Infatuation, Marsolve (July Cup winner) and Ratification. In January 1972 Sir Robin sold Fitzroy House to Jack and David Fisher who immediately enticed Peter Robinson from Cadland Stables to train for them at Fitzroy House.
1962 Newbury Spring Cup PARDONER 100/9 trained by John Waugh and ridden by Bill Rickaby
In the mid-1960s six of the most prestigious, historical racing stables in Newmarket were honoured by having races named after them on the July course on the Saturday of the late August meeting. One of the six selected was Fitzroy House Stables, which continued into the 1980s despite the Philip Cornes sponsored events replacing some of the other Stable's races, with results shown below:-
1965 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by JAVELAINE (9/1) ridden by Greville Starkey
1966 Fitzroy House Stakes resulted in a dead-heat between HORNED MOON (9/4) ridden by Brian Taylor, and PATCH (5/1) ridden by Russ Maddock
1967 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by FLORIANA (9/4 fav) trained by Gavin Hunter and ridden by Keith Temple-Nidd
1968 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by SHOEMAKER (7/4 fav) trained by Peter Walwyn and ridden by Duncan Keith
1969 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by RUSSIAN BANK (7/1) trained by Ian Balding and ridden by Paul Cook
1970 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by SPOILED LAD (2/1 jt fav) trained by Bernard Van Cutsem and ridden by Willie Carson
1971 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by PENTLAND FIRTH (9/4 fav) trained by Geoff Barling and ridden by Pat Eddery
1972 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by ASHENDENE (33/1) trained by Bruce Hobbs and ridden by T Reidy
1973 Fitzroy House Stakes was not contested
1974 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by HIGH SEASON (5/2) trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Greville Starkey
1975 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by WOLLOW (4/5 fav) trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Gianfranco Dettori
1976 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by CARD PLAYER (9/2) trained by Ian Balding and ridden by John Matthias
1977 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by SWINGING SAM (6/4 fav) trained by Robert Armstrong and ridden by Greville Starkey
1978 Fitzroy House Stakes was won by WARMINGTON (11/8) trained by Jeremy Hindley and ridden by Alan Kimberley
Jan 1972-June 1978 Peter Robinson
Peter John Robinson, son of a Nottingham based interior decorator, was born at Kimberley on 13th June 1936 and, after completing his statutory education became apprentice to Harry Wragg at Abington Place. He was crowned champion apprentice in 1955, riding 46 winners in that season, having secured his first winner on Prince Yaky at Birmingham racecourse on 22nd June 1952 aged 16. He was a go-to lightweight rider in Handicaps, sometimes riding as low as 7st, winning the 1955 Ebor Handicap on Hyperion Kid and the Cambridgeshire in the same year, riding Lady Zia Wernher's Retrial at 18/1. In 1957 he was aboard Retrial again in the Royal Hunt Cup which he won at 100/7 for Wernher and Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. He won the first of 3 Lincoln Handicaps in 1959 on Marshal Pil (15/2), winning again in 1964 on Mighty Gurkha (33/1), and again in 1967 on Ben Novus (22/1). In August 1969 trainer Edward (Teddy) Lambton decided to call it a day for the second time at Kremlin House Stables, leaving Peter with the decision of whether to continue to ride or to embark on a training career. He chose the latter and made an immediate success of it by landing the Cambridgeshire with Prince de Galles at 5/2 favourite, carrying only 7st 12lbs. Peter trained at Kremlin House for the final 3 months of the season, doing so well that he earned a place in the jockeys and trainer's tables. Teddy sold Kremlin House and Stables to Jeremy Hindley in time for the 1970 season, leaving Peter Robinson to lease Cadland House Stables from Arthur Goodwill, moving his string of 29 horses in readiness for the start of the 1970 season. It is clear what a good thing Prince de Galles was in the 1969 Cambridgeshire with only 7st 12lbs, for he won the race the next year carrying 9st 7lbs. In the 1971 season Peter's string had increased to 41, while in January 1972 Peter was enticed away from Cadland by Messrs Jack and David Fisher, patrons of Peter at Cadland, who purchased Fitzroy House Stables from Sir Robert McAlpine. Peter enjoyed an early success at Fitzroy House, winning the traditional start of the flat season race, the Lincoln Handicap in 1972 with Sovereign Bill. On 28th June 1978 Peter travelled back from Salisbury races with his son Philip and had a heart attack, dying aged just 42.
1972 Lincoln Handicap SOVEREIGN BILL 9/2 fav owned by Mr W Barr, trained by Peter Robinson and ridden by Edward Hide
June 1978-December 1978 Bill Holden
Bill Holden, born in February 1920 and apprentice to Jack Reardon at Epsom, launched his own training career in 1957 and continued to train in Newmarket until 1971. He then moved just down the road to stables in Exning where he trained until 1992. In a training career spanning 35 years he sent out 216 winners, but his best season was in 1978 when he saddled 15 winners. Although his highest profile winners were the 1962 Esher Cup winner Bucks King, and the 1966 Great St Wilfrid Handicap winner Royal Yacht, for six months in 1978 he also managed the Fitzroy House Stables after the tragic, untimely death of Peter Robinson.
Jan 1979-1986 Frankie Durr
Frankie Durr, born in Liverpool on 10th November 1925, was a highly regarded jockey for 34 years, winning his first race at Pontefract in 1944 with Merle and his last in 1978. He served his apprenticeship at Bedford Cottage Stables, sharing the 1945 Apprentice Jockeys Title with Tommy Gosling, each notching 10 winners. He rode the winners of many top races, including no less than four English Classics, starting in 1966 when Sodium (SR 1964) won the St Leger, followed in 1973 with wins in the 2000 Guineas by Mon Fils (SR 1891), and St Leger with Peleid (SR 1914), and completing his quartet in the 1978 2000 Guineas with Roland Gardens (1890). He retired from riding in 1978 and launched his training career the next year, taking over from Peter Robinson at Fitzroy House on Black Bear Lane. He enjoyed an early success in 1979 when Ahonoora landed the King George Stakes and William Hill Sprint Championship, followed by Swelter's win in the Porland Handicap, and all seemed to be running smoothly until, in 1982, Fitzroy House Stables were hit by a virus which devastated his business. However, he bounced back with great determination in 1983, winning the Cambridgeshire with Sagamore in the hands of Taffy Thomas. In 1985 he won the Ayr Gold Cup with Camps Heath. In 1988 Alec Scott purchased Fitzroy House, and Frankie Durr was registered at Vicarage Racing Stables, Kirtling near Newmarket, continuing to train until 1991 before enjoying almost a decade of retirement, dying on Tuesday 18th January 2000 in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.
1979 King George Stakes AHONOORA evens fav owned by Essa Alkhalifa, trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Greville Starkey
1979 William Hill Sprint Championship (Nunthorpe Stakes) AHONOORA 3/1 owned by Essa Alkhalifa, trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Greville Starkey
1980 Portland Handicap SWELTER 8/1 trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Philip Robinson
1983 Cambridgeshire SAGAMORE 35/1 owned by Bill Gerhauser and Ted Naughton, trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Taffy Thomas
1985 Ayr Gold Cup CAMPS HEATH 14/1 trained by Frankie Durr and ridden by Wendyll Woods
After Frankie Durr vacated the stables, bound for Vicarage Stables, Kirtling, R R Hutchinson was registered as the trainer at Fitzroy House.
1988 Alec Scott
Alexander Archibald Scott, born on 8th February 1960, purchased Fitzroy House in early 1988 with a view to launching his career as a public trainer, but in June 1988 Sheikh Maktoum Al-Maktoum offered Scott the position of trainer at his Oak Tree Stables. He further enticed him by agreeing that Scott could train horses for other people as well, and Scott readily agreed. During his six-year training career the most successful horse was the great sprinter Cadeaux Genereux. On 30th September 1994 Scott met an untimely death, aged just 34, when he was shot by a disgruntled stablehand.
1989-present Michael Bell
Michael Bell, son of Captain Brian Bell, was born on 10th October 1960 and began his training career at Fitzroy House in 1989. He enjoyed immediate success when his father moved Pass the Peace, the 1988 Debutante Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes winner, from Paul Cole's stable to his sons training establishment. The horse won the 1989 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in the hands of Richard Quinn. Four years later Bell captured his first Classic victory when Ancestral Dancer won the Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1000 Guineas) at Cappanelle. A second foreign Classic victory was secured in 2011 when Zanzibar won the Oaks d'Italia at San Siro. However, arguably his greatest triumph to date was with Motivator (SR 2063), sewing seeds of greatness in winning the 2004 Racing Post Trophy and the 2005 Dante Stakes before coming to full fruition in the 2005 Epsom Derby. Two further Classic victories followed in 2009 when Sariska (SR 1929) captured the English and Irish Oaks. Having trained at Fitzroy House Stables for more than 30 years, there are promising signs that there is much more to come from this popular, hard-working trainer.
1989 Fred Darling Stakes PASS THE PEACE 11/8 fav owned by Captain Brian Bell, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Richard Quinn
1993 Italian 1000 Guineas ANCESTRAL DANCER owned by Innlaw Racing, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Michael Hills
1994 Prix Morny HOH MAGIC 12/5 owned by David Allport, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Michael Hills
2001 Italian Oaks ZANZIBAR 12/5 fav owned by Gilly Rowland-Clark, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Micky Fenton
2002 Windsor Castle Stakes REVENUE 14/1 owned by Royal Ascot Racing Club, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
2004 Racing Post Trophy MOTIVATOR 6/4 fav owned by Royal Ascot Racing Club, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Kieren Fallon
2005 Dante Stakes MOTIVATOR evens fav owned by Royal Ascot Racing Club, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
2005 Epsom Derby MOTIVATOR (SR 2063) 3/1 fav owned by Royal Ascot Racing Club, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
2006 Sandringham Handicap RED EVIE 5/1 co fav owned by Terry Neill, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2006 Matron Stakes RED EVIE 6/1 owned by Terry Neill and Georgina Bell, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2006 Oak Tree Stakes RED EVIE 15/8 fav owned by Terry Neill, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2007 Lockinge Stakes RED EVIE 8/1 owned by Terry Neill, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2007 Hungerford Stakes RED EVIE 5/1 owned by Terry Neill, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2008 Coventry Stakes ART CONNOISSEUR 8/1 owned by Richard Green, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Tom Queally
2009 Musidora Stakes SARISKA 3/1 owned by Carole, Lady Bamford, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2009 Epsom Oaks SARISKA (SR 1929) 9/4 fav owned by Carole, Lady Bamford, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2009 Irish Oaks SARISKA (SR 1929) evens fav owned by Carole, Lady Bamford, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2009 Sandringham Handicap MONEYCANTBUYMELOVE 9/2 fav owned by Wright, Stanly, Lascelles, Marsh & Harris, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2009 Golden Jubilee Stakes ART CONNOISSEUR 20/1 owned by Richard Green, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Tom Queally
2010 Middleton Stakes SARISKA 10/11 fav owned by Carole, Lady Bamford, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2011 Nunthorpe Stakes MARGOT DID 20/1 owned by T Redman and P Phillips, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Hayley Turner
2014 Chester Stakes BIG ORANGE 5/1 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Tom Queally
2014 Noel Murless Stakes BIG ORANGE 100/30 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Tom Queally
2015 Princess of Wales's Stakes BIG ORANGE 25/1 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2015 Goodwood Cup BIG ORANGE 6/1 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2016 Princess of Wales's Stakes BIG ORANGE 8/1 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2016 Goodwood Cup BIG ORANGE 11/4 fav owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Jamie Spencer
2017 Henry II Stakes BIG ORANGE 4/5 fav owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2017 Ascot Gold Cup BIG ORANGE 5/1 owned by Bill Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by James Doyle
2018 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes PRETTY POLLYANNA 20/1 owned by Bill & T Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2018 Prix Morny PRETTY POLLYANNA 8/5 fav owned by Bill & T Gredley, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa
2020 Norfolk Stakes LIR JET 9/2 owned by Qatar Racing Ltd, trained by Michael Bell and ridden by Oisin Murphy
BAHRAM (1935 English Triple Crown)
TEHRAN (1944 Irish St Leger)
TULYAR (1952 Epsom Derby, St Leger)
MOTIVATOR (2005 Epsom Derby)
MAHMOUD (1936 Epsom Derby)
