Grange House Stables on the Hamilton Road, formerly called High Havens Stables, was built by David Morley between 1985 and 1987. It has been the home of two 2000 Guineas winners, a high-profile racing couple and a number of trainers making their way in the game.
1985-January 1998 David Morley
Michael Frederick David Morley, born in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 17th September 1939, was a successful racehorse trainer late on in his career. David was encouraged to take an interest in racing as a child by his grandfather Charles Gordon who owned a stud in Devon where David spent a happy part of his childhood. David was educated at Eton before completing his National Service with the 10th Hussars in Germany. During his time in Germany he trained horses for the German Jockey Club and, after completing his National Service, he worked for 9 years as assistant to Frank Cundell. He launched his training career in 1973 in a yard he built in Bury St Edmunds, predominantly training National Hunt horses, although the high number of injuries and fatalities in the sport did not sit well with him. He celebrated his first winner, High Havens 4/1 in the never to be forgotten Spencer Draper Cup Steeplechase at Market Rasen on Saturday 29th September 1973 when ridden by J Skjoedt. Whilst his ventures on the Flat were limited in number, he did win the 1975 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot with Calaba partnered by Lester Piggott. In 1985 he switched his attention to the Flat, taking on a project to build his own stables on the Hamilton Road in Newmarket, a project he had completed by 1987, naming the stables High Havens after that very first winner. His career received a boost in 1988 when Hamdan Al Maktoum provided him with a string of horses which ultimately led to him achieving his greatest successes as a trainer. In 1994 he won the Middle Park Stakes with Fard 33/1, having previously won 3 consecutive lower grade races with the colt. In 1996 he won the Northumberland Plate with the well-fancied 2/1 favourite Celeric in the hands of Willie Carson, also landing the Lonsdale Stakes and Jockey Club Stakes with the same horse. In 1997 he captured a second Middle Park Stakes with Hayil 14/1, but arguably his greatest success came very late on in his career when Celeric won the 1997 Ascot Gold Cup in the hands of Pat Eddery. Celeric was owned and bred at Chievely Manor Stud by his brother-in-law Christopher Spence. David died of a heart attack on 5th January 1998 at Garrowby, Yorkshire and his widow Melanie briefly inherited his training licence.
1994 Coleman's of Norwich Stakes FARD 7/1 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Richard Hills
1994 Wellbeing Sweepstakes at Beverley FARD 7/4 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Willie Carson
1994 EBF Riding for the Disabled Stakes at York FARD 10/11 fav owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Willie Carson
1994 Middle Park Stakes FARD 33/1 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Willie Carson
1996 Northumberland Plate CELERIC 2/1 fav owned by Christopher Spence, trained by David Morley and ridden by Willie Carson
1996 Lonsdale Stakes CELERIC 9/4 fav owned by Christopher Spence, trained by David Morley and ridden by Willie Carson
1996 Jockey Club Stakes CELERIC 11/4 owned by Christopher Spence, trained by David Morley and ridden by Richard Hills
1997 Newmarket Maiden Stakes HAYIL 4/5 fav owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Kieron Fallon
1997 Yorkshire Cup CELERIC 7/2 owned by Christopher Spence, trained by David Morley and ridden by Pat Eddery
1997 Middle Park Stakes HAYIL 14/1 owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, trained by David Morley and ridden by Richard Hills
1997 Ascot Gold Cup CELERIC 11/2 owned by Christopher Spence, trained by David Morley and ridden by Pat Eddery
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.
Karl Burke successfully applied for a training licence in 1990, saddling his first winner, Temporale, in a handicap hurdle at Towcester in October 1990. In 1994 he won his first major race when Daring Destiny, owned by Mrs Ann Wright, won the Ayr Gold Cup 18/1 in the hands of Jason Tate, following up that success two years later with a win in the prestigious Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown when partnered by Richard Hughes. In 1998 Karl moved to Newmarket, leasing High Havens Stables on the Hamilton Road from owner Jim Lovat, after the untimely death of the popular trainer David Morley in January 1998. Karl crowned a successful first year at High Havens by winning the 1998 Ayr Gold Cup with Always Alight. He made further progress in 1999 when he saddled 50 winners on the Flat. Out of the blue in 2000, Karl was given 6 months notice to leave High Havens Stables, departing for Spigot Lodge Stables in Middleham, North Yorkshire later in the year.
1994 Ayr Gold Cup DARING DESTINTY 18/1 owned by Mrs Ann Wright, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Jason Tate
1996 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown DARING DESTINY 14/1 owned by Mrs Ann Wright, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Richard Hughes
1998 Ayr Gold Cup ALWAYS ALIGHT 16/1 owned by Michael Nelmes-Crocker, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by John Egan
2000-2003 Paul D'Arcy
Paul William D'Arcy, born on 16th February 1956, spent his early teens helping out at Doug Mark's stables in Lambourn before becoming an apprentice to Geoff Toft and Barry Hills. He rode his first winner, Clem's Boy, at Pontefract on 6th August 1975 and carved out a successful career as a jockey riding for Harry Thomson Jones, David Ringer, Sit Michael Stoute and Karl Bridgewater. In the 1990s Paul retired from race riding to pursue a career as a trainer, starting in 1998, and at the start of the new millennium he began training at High Havens Stables, leasing it from Jim Lovat and replacing Karle Burke who had transferred to Middleham. In 2001 Lady High Havens, part owned by Mrs A Lovat, wife of the owner of High Havens Stables, won 2 races at Ascot whilst trained by Paul, and he had high hopes for her if the correct training programme was adopted. The owner decided to transfer Lady High Havens from Paul to Jeremy Noseda, and the horse did not win again. In 2002 Paul trained Indian Haven to win the lowly European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes ay Yarmouth, but held high hopes for the colt to perform in a higher class as a three-year-old. However, that would have to be in a different stable, barely 100 yards form High Havens Stable, at Green Ridge Stables, after Jim Lovat gave Paul just 3 months notice to move out of Grange House Stables.
2002 European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes at Yarmouth INDIAN HAVEN 9/4 owned by Peter Gleeson, Loz Conway and Julian Smith, trained by Paul D'Arcy and ridden by John Egan.
2003-2004 Conrad Allen
Conrad Allen, who began by working in a bank before becoming a moderately successful jockey, launched his training career in 1987, going on to purchase Shadowfax Stables in 1989. He increased the number of boxes at Shadowfax over time until the estate contained his bungalow and a 40-box American barn. In 2003 Conrad replaced Paul D'Arcy at Grange House Stables, remaining there for a year before being replaced by Geoff Huffer.
2004-2007 Geoff Huffer
At the start of the 1979 season Geoff Huffer began training at Cheveley Park Stables, having been assistant to John Bingham in Doncaster. In 1982 he moved stables twice in one season, transferring from Cheveley Park Stables to the Lester Piggott owned Calder Park Stables in January, before moving to Somerville Lodge in October 1982. By 1985 he had moved on to La Grange where he trained predominantly for Kuwait based owners and enjoyed a Group race success in 1988 when Persian Heights won the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. In December 1990 newspapers reported that receivers had been appointed at La Grange, owned by Kuwait-backed Gulf Racing and Bloodstock. Communication with the directors had proved difficult after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and Geoff Huffer quit training and set up his own transport business, although it did not end successfully. In 2004 Huffer once again got the urge to train, taking over Grange House Stables from Conrad Allen. During his 4-year period at Grange House he won 29 races, crowning his stay with victory in the 2007 2000 Guineas with Cockney Rebel, going on to land the Irish 2000 Guineas later in the year. He sent out his final runner at Lingfield before retiring from his second stint as a racehorse trainer at the end of the season.
2007 Irish 2000 Guineas COCKNEY REBEL (SR 1921) 6/4 fav owned by Phil Cunningham, trained by Geoff Huffer and ridden by Olivier Peslier
2007-2011 Jamie & Emma Spencer
Between 2007 and 2011 Grange House and Stables were owned by Jamie and Emma Spencer. They lived in the 6-bedroom house, set in 3 acres, with their 3 children, leasing the 67 boxes in the yard. Jamie moved out of the house in 2011, while Emma purchased a similar size house on the opposite side of Newmarket.
December 2007-January 2011 Ed Vaughan
Ed Vaughan, born in County Cork, was formerly assistant trainer to Alec Stewart at Clarehaven until Alec died of cancer aged just 49. Alec had been a successful trainer since the late 1980s and is best known for sending out Mtoto to win the Eclipse Stakes in 1987 and 1988. Ed took out a temporary licence in 2004 enabling him to take charge after Alec's passing, and then he leased a barn from Henry Cecil at Warren Place Stables from 2005 until November 2007. In December 2007 he relocated to Grange House Stables, owned by Jamie Spencer, remaining there until January 2011. He then moved to his current location, Machell Place Stables in February 2011. In 2010 Peter Chapple-Hyam had sold Machell Place House for £550,000 and had put the stables on the market, but Ed took over the 26 boxes in February 2011.
2011-December 2012 Noel Quinlan
In February 2011 Ed Vaughan transferred his string to Machell Place, citing the fact that owner Jamie Spencer had suggested a rent rise, which Ed disagreed with. Ed was replaced by Mick and Noel Quinlan who had, up to that point, trained at nearby Athnid Stables. In 2011 Noel took over the licence from brother Mick, although Mick had enjoyed success at Athnid with Langs Lash in the 2008 Queen Mary Stakes and Silk Affair in the 2009 Fred Winter at Cheltenham. The Quinlan brothers remained at Grange House Stables for a year, running up a sequence of 5 consecutive wins with Bilidn, before transferring to Harraton Court, Exning.
2012 Wolverhampton Racecourse Handicap BILIDN 9/4 owned by Total Plumbing Supplies Club, trained by Noel Quinlan, and ridden by Chris Catlin
2012 Best Odds Handicap at Yarmouth BILIDN 9/4 owned by Total Plumbing Supplies Club, trained by Noel Quinlan, and ridden by Chris Catlin
2012 Booker Cash & Carry Handicap at Newcastle BILIDN 13/8 owned by Total Plumbing Supplies Club, trained by Noel Quinlan, and ridden by Chris Catlin
2012 Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles Handicap at Newcastle BILIDN 9/4 owned by Total Plumbing Supplies Club, trained by Noel Quinlan, and ridden by Chris Catlin
2012 Caffreys Handicap at Nottingham BILIDN 11/10 owned by Total Plumbing Supplies Club, trained by Noel Quinlan, and ridden by Paul Hanagan
December 2012-December 2013 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.
2014-2015 In some Trainers Directories Howard Russell was listed as the trainer at Grange House Stables.
2016-present Ismail Mohammed
Ismail Mohammed split his time between Grange House Stables and MRM Stables in Dubai, where he trained over 300 endurance horses. He won the 2013 Cambridgeshire with Educate 8/1 fav, owned by his principal owner Sultan Ali and ridden by Johnny Murtagh, and followed up 3 years later with a win in the 2016 John Smith's Magnet Cup. In 2019 Ismail Mohammed was suspended by the International Equestrian Federation from endurance racing for 2 years for alleged doping offences.
2013 Cambridgeshire EDUCATE 8/1 fav owned by Sultan Ali, trained by Ismail Mohammed and ridden by Johnny Murtagh
2016 John Smith's Cup EDUCATE 18/1 owned by Sultan Ali, trained by Ismail Mohammed and ridden by Thomas Brown
CELERIC (1997 Ascot Gold Cup, Yorkshire Cup, 1996 Northumberland Plate)
COCKNEY REBEL (2007 2000 Guineas, Irish 2000 Guineas)
DARING DESTINY (1994 Ayr Gold Cup, 1996 Phoenis Sprint Stakes)
EDUCATE (2013 Cambridgeshire, 2016 John Smith's Cup)
FARD (1994 Middle Park Stakes)
