Hamilton Road stables
In the mid-1960s a vast area of land, owned by the Jockey Club, close to the Heath, gallops and Rowley Mile course, was earmarked by the Jockey Club to form part of a massive venture aimed at increasing the number of stables in Newmarket, On the Hamilton Road plans were presented for the new stables, and the first to take advantage of the new scheme was former champion jockey turned trainer, Doug Smith. In December 1967, three days before Christmas, Doug announced that he would be moving his string of 30 horses from the yard of his former master, Geoff Brooke, and relocating to a gleaming new yard, the first of several offered to prospective tenants by the Jockey Club. Over half a century on, in 2020 the Hamilton Road contained in excess of 25 such racing establishments, many having changed owners, trainers and stable names on a regular basis since Doug Smith first occupied Cedar Lodge Stables back in early 1968. They offer direct and easy access to all of the Jockey Club Estates facilities and gallops, all within easy reach of the Warren Hill gallops. The Jockey Club cares for 2500 acres of maintained gallops, which includes over 50 miles of turf gallops, and since those early days of 1967 many Classic winners have been sent out from the wide array of Hamilton Road Stables.
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.
The Hamilton Stables racing establishment, on the Hamilton Road, was often divided into 2 separate yards, but over time it has flitted between a single yard and up to 2 yards. The complex is located on the opposite side of the Hamilton Road to the racecourse and extensive Jockey Club gallops, but with easy access to the gallops. To the right of the main Hamilton Stables is Lemberg and Frankland Lodge, while on the left is Hamilton Lower yard (once called Hamilton Hill) and Carriageway Stables.
1987-2002 Pat Mitchell
Patrick Kenneth Mitchell, born on 27th April 1943, was destined to work in the racing industry, and began as an apprentice to his uncle, Frank Muggeridge, who was based at Coronation Stables, Worth in Sussex. In 1967 Pat rode his first winner, James Edgar, at Fontwell on 21st August 1967, trained by Muggeridge. In 1977, whilst still a jockey, he successfully applied for a trainer's licence, using Manor Stables at Polegate as his base. A decade later he transferred to Newmarket, taking over the new Hamilton Stables on the Hamilton Road in 1987. He enjoyed a purple patch between 1986 and 1991, particularly with the ace sprinter Tauber, who won 17 races in a short period of time. Pat continued to train until 2002, but after a short retirement he died of cancer in June 2005, aged just 62.
March 1988-1989 Billy Wilson
In March 1988 newspapers reported that Billy Wilson had leased 18 boxes from Pat Mitchell at his Hamilton Stud Stables on the Hamilton Road.
2002-present Michael Wigham
Michael Wigham, born in Malton, North Yorkshire, on 30th September 1958, is the son of Percy Wigham, a successful National Hunt jockey and trainer who died in 1998, and the brother of Cliff, a jockey and trainer. Michael graduated from the renowned Upper Longden stables of Reg Hollinshead, who turned many aspiring apprentices into very successful professional jockeys. Michael rode his first winner, Highland Jig, at Leicester on 11th September 1975, and within three years he had recorded his best season in terms of high-profile winners, landing the 1978 Lincoln Handicap with Captains Wings 13/2 when trained by Ron Boss, the Free Handicap with the Reg Hollinshead trained Remainder Man, and the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot aboard Fear Naught 12/1 owned by Mr W Norton and trained by Jimmy Etherington. He retired from the saddle in 1998, having notched up more than 600 winners, and turned his hand to training in 2000. In the early years of the new millennium he took over at Hamilton Stables, on the Hamilton Road, and enjoyed success despite having a small string. In 2007 he guided Confidentiality to a run of 6 consecutive wins on the all-weather circuits of Lingfield, Kempton and Wolverhampton.
2007 Digibet Sports Betting Handicap at Kempton CONFIDENTIALITY 6/4 owned by Mr J M Cullinan, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Nicky Mackay
2007 Go Pontins Holidays Handicap at Wolverhampton CONFIDENTIALITY 5/4 owned by Mr J M Cullinan, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Nicky Mackay
2007 Go Pontins Handicap at Wolverhampton CONFIDENTIALITY 6/4 owned by Mr J M Cullinan, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Nicky Mackay
2007 Pontin's Short Breaks Handicap at Wolverhampton CONFIDENTIALITY 4/9 owned by Mr J M Cullinan, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Nicky Mackay
2007 Pontinsbingo.com Handicap at Wolverhampton CONFIDENTIALITY 4/9 owned by Mr J M Cullinan, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Nicky Mackay
2010 Cambridgeshire CREDIT SWAP 14/1 owned by Your Golf Travel Ltd, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Jim Crowley
2012 Summer Mile Stakes at Ascot FANUNALTER 33/1 owned by A Al Kathiri, trained by Michael Wigham and ridden by Olivier Peslier
