Harraton House/Harraton Court Stables/Harraton Lodge/Harraton Stud
In the early part of the 19th century the land to the north-west of Newmarket, on which Harraton Court Stables and Stud were later built, was agricultural farmland. At that time the area in Exning, on the outskirts of Newmarket, was known as The Lodge, and contained Harraton House and, of particular note, an historic barn known as Clunch Barn or Pit. It is believed that the original barn, much of whose original slate roof still remains intact, was erected as early as 1811. By the early part of the 20th century the Clunch Barn became a Stable Barn and renamed after the 1905 Epsom Derby winner Cicero. Harraton Court Stables, laid out in a large rectangle, with hipped and gabled slate roofs complete with dormers half way along the roof, was built in 1883 by John George Lambton, the 3rd Earl of Durham, although work had begun on the project before that date, because an arch of the central gable was inscribed with the initials EM to mark the marriage of the 3rd Earl to Ethel Milner in 1882. The estate also included landscaped gardens, numerous outbuildings, Harraton Stud, and two semi-detached houses which were added slightly later. Also, the adjoining, former trainers house, Harraton Lodge was built and is now accessed via Ducks Lane.

1855-1928 3rd Earl of Durham (John George Lambton)
John George Lambton, eldest twin son of George Lambton (2nd Earl of Durham) and his wife Lady Beatrix Frances, was born on 19th June 1855, the other twin being Frederick. John George served in the Coldstream Guards and, from 1884 until his death, served as Lord Lieutenant of the County of Durham. On the death of his father he inherited the title 3rd Earl of Durham along with his estates, which included Harraton House at The Lodge, Exning. He married Ethel Elizabeth Louisa Milner in 1882, marking the occasion by inscribing her initials EM on the arch of the central gable of Harraton Court Stables which were being built at the time, and which were completed in 1883.

1904 July Stakes CICERO owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1905 Epsom Derby CICERO (SR 2029) 4/11 fav owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1909 Champagne Stakes NEIL GOW 6/1 owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1910 Craven Stakes NEIL GOW owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1910 2000 Guineas NEIL GOW (SR 2045) 2/1 fav owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1910 Eclipse Stakes NEIL GOW owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1914 Newbury Spring Cup WRACK owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher
1915 Newbury Spring Cup WRACK owned by 5th Earl of Rosebery, trained by Percy Peck and ridden by Danny Maher

CICERO (SR 2029)
Cicero, a chestnut colt by Cyllene out of Gas, was foaled at Lord Rosebery's stud, The Durdans, near Epsom in 1902. He was sent to Harraton Court, Exning, to be trained by Percy Peck, and began his two-year-old career by winning the Fitzwilliam Stakes at the Newmarket Craven meeting. He then went to Epsom, where he won the 1904 Woodcote Stakes, followed by a victory at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes. Such was his superiority that he won the July Stakes at the prohibitive odds of 1/20, ending the season unbeaten when landing the National Breeder's Produce Stakes at Sandown, on the back of which he was made winter favourite for the Epsom Derby. The normal start at three would have been the 2000 Guineas, but Cicero was not entered, so he had to make do with a win in the Newmarket Stakes, after which he went straight to Epsom where he justified odds of 4/11, albeit after a hard-fought 3/4 length victory from Jardy and Signorino. Strongly fancied to follow up in the Eclipse Stakes, he was unable to give 3lbs to Val d'Or and was beaten half a length. His 4-year-old career was disappointing and he was sent to stud at Mentmore, Buckinghamshire.

John William Parsons
John William Parsons, born in Birmingham in 1867, married Blanche Annie Kerry (born 1868) in 1896 and they had two children, Ivy Blanche, born in 1897, and Ronald Jack, born in 1901. John, who lived with his family at 4 Harraton Terrace at the turn of the century, was Travelling Head Lad at Harraton Court Stables to Percy Peck in 1901. It is not known whether John accompanied Cicero when the horse won the 1905 Epsom Derby on 31st May 1905 but, given that he was travelling Head Lad, there is every likelihood that he did. By 1911 John had moved his family to Lansdown(e) Cottage, after being appointed Head Lad. During the early years of the First World War he, and his family, moved to 15 Nat Flatman Street where they continued to live until John died. His oldest child, Ivy, married John W Freeman in 1925. Sadly, John died in 1928 aged 61, while Blanche died in 1948, aged 80, and both are buried in Newmarket Cemetery, located at NG E881. Tragically, their son Ronald had a son, Douglas Ronald, who died in 1932 aged just 7 months old, and is also buried in Newmarket Cemetery at P38.

September 1928-1929 Harraton House: Frederick W Lambton
On 18th September 1928 the 3rd Earl of Durham, John George Lambton, died at his Harraton House residence and, since he did not have any children, his title and estate passed to his younger twin brother Frederick. In February 1929 the trainer Mr J H Crawford enquired, on behalf of Sir Victor Sassoon, about purchasing Harraton Stud Farm, but made it clear that Sir Victor had no intention of buying the other associated properties and land. The whole estate was subsequently purchased by Lord Glanley.

1929-42 Harraton House: Lord Glanely, George Digby
Frederick Lambton, who inherited the Harraton Estate from his twin brother after he died on 18th September 1928, subsequently sold the Estate to Lord Glanely who already owned La Grange Stables. Lord Glanely, William James Tatem, was born at Appledore, North Devon on 6th March 1868 and became a wealthy Cardiff ship-owned, owning the Lady Lewis Steamship Company which he renamed the Tatem Steam Ship Company in 1910. He married Ada Mary Williams on 14th September 1897 and they had one son, Thomas Shandon Tatem, who tragically died aged 6. Lord Glanely enjoyed horse racing and was chairman of both Cardiff and Chepstow racecourses. He won 6 English Classics, most notably the 1919 Epsom Derby with Grand Parade (SR 1968) and the 1930 Epsom Oaks with Rose of England (SR 1808). Lady Glanely died on 10th April 1930 and William did not remarry. In February 1934 Harraton House, the residential property, as well as Harraton Court Stables, Harraton Court Stud, 4 additional farms and 1082 acres was advertised for sale by auction by Lord Glanely. Despite a large crowd attending the auction in May 1934, no sale was made as the reserve price was not reached. Lord Glanely, who made his fortune from shipping, purchased La Grange stables in early 1920, employing a number of trainers during his ownership of La Grange, including W J Platt, Charles Marsh, Fred C Archer, Frank Barling and Captain Thomas Hogg, who provided him with a number of Classic victories. He also purchased Harraton House and Stables in 1934, regularly opening his gardens to local charities in Exning. He employed George Digby as his trainer at Harraton Stables. In February 1935 George Digby was taken seriously ill with an internal stomache complaint and was treated at a top London hospital. He returned to Harration House to complete his recuperation. When the Second World War broke out in 1939 La Grange was requisitioned by the British Army and Lord Glanely moved his horses to Manton. He was killed in an air-raid on Weston-super-Mare in June 1942 aged 74.

1930-53 George Digby
George Richard Digby, recognised as one of the best ever riders of Arab horses, was crowned champion jockey in Egypt on no less than 14 occasions. After a highly successful riding career George turned his hand to training, initially training privately for John Reid Walker in 1927, for whom he won back to back Ascot Gold Cups with Invershin in 1928 and 1929. He then moved to Harraton Lodge, owned by Lord Glanely, where he was a public trainer. He won the 1934 Ascot Stakes with Hands Off for Mr F Dennis, a Lincolnshire potato grower, and the 1935 Dee Stakes at Chester with Pry II for Mr H W W Simms when ridden by Charlie Smirke. The Smirke connection continued in 1939 when Charlie's younger brother Harry was apprentice to Digby, winning the Newmarket Apprentice Handicap aboard the George Digby owned Jolie Laide. Later George jointly owned a stud farm with jockey Joe Childs at Nazeing, Essex, and in the twilight of his career he owned and trained another Ascot Gold Cup winner in 1953 with Souepi ridden by Charlie Elliott.
1933 Bridgeman Handicap at Aintree DOUBLE BELL 11/2 owned by Captain W P Ahern, trained by George Digby and ridden by Joe Dines
1934 Palatine Handicap Plate at Manchester POLETTE 7/1 owned by Mr H J Simms, trained by George Digby and ridden by Tommy Weston
1934 Ascot Stakes HANDS OFF 25/1 owned by Mr F Dennis, trained by George Digby and ridden by A Richardson
1935 Dee Stakes PRY II 7/1 owned by Mr H W W Simms, trained by George Digby and ridden by Charlie Smirke
1936 Sutton Handicap at Thirsk THE REEVE 8/1 owned by Mr F W Dennis, trained by George Digby and ridden by Vic Mitchell
1937 Sohan Handicap at Newmarket GIORGETTA 10/1 owned by Miss P Schreiber, trained by George Digby and ridden by Wally Sibbritt
1939 Newmarket Apprentice Handicap JOLIE LAIDE 3/1 owned and trained by George Digby and ridden by Harry Smirke
1953 Ascot Gold Cup SOUEPI 11/2 owned and trained by George Digby and ridden by Charlie Elliott

1953-58 Harraton Stables, Harraton Lodge, Paddy O'Gorman
William Gerard O'Gorman, universally known as Paddy, was born in County Cork, Ireland on 27th May 1913 and travelled across to England in 1934. He transferred to Newmarket after the War to work with Robert 'Jack' Colling, son of the famous trainer Robert Weston Colling, although he had never previously been involved in a formal racing environment, but he proved himself to be an accomplished horseman and was soon put in charge of Colling's Scaltback Stud. He started breaking in yearlings on his own account at Oaks Lodge before moving to Harraton Stables in Exning, and then next door at Harraton Lodge. In 1953 Paddy successfully applied for a trainer's license, and did well with a small string, winning the 1958 Newbury Spring Cup with Nicholas Nickleby, the 1958 Stewards Cup with Epaulette, and the 1958 King's Stand Stakes with Drum Beat owned by Jack Gerber. Gerber's racing manager Dick Whitford played a significant role in establishing Timeform along with mathematician Phil Bull. Paddy briefly lived in Shalfleet Cottage until the main house was ready in 1959, remaining at Shalfleet until he transferred to Graham Place in 1963.
1958 Newbury Spring Cup NICHOLAS NICKLEBY 7/1 owned by Jack Gerber, trained by Paddy O'Gorman and ridden by Joe Mercer
1958 Stewards Cup EPAULETTE 33/1 owned by Jack Gerber, trained by Paddy O'Gorman and ridden by Frankie Durr
1958 King's Stand Stakes DRUM BEAT 2/1 jt fav owned by Jack Gerber, trained by Paddy O'Gorman and ridden by Scobie Breasley

1959-1961 Harraton Court Stables; Brigadier Stephen Galpin
In October 1961 Brigadier Stephen G Galpin, who trained at Harraton Court Stables, lost his licence and was disqualified by the Stewards of the National Hunt Committee for running Loddon Ruby at an unrecognised meeting. Loddon Ruby was also perpetually disqualified. A year later his son Richard married Felicity Vivien Wright in Newmarket and by the 1970s the couple were living in Coronation Stables. The Galpin's sold Harraton House to Mr Cookson, while Harraton Court Stables were bought by Dave Thom.

1962 Harraton House: Mr Cookson
When the Galpin's decided to offload their Harraton training establishment they sold the House to Mr Cookson, while the Stables went to Dave Thom.

1962-2000 Dave Thom
Dave Trenchard Thom, born on 13th July 1925 at Pollockshields on the outskirts of Glasgow, was one of 5 children. In 1941 he joined the Royal Marines to take part in the D-Day landings despite being just 16 years of age. He eventually reached the rank of Sergeant, and, once the War had ended, he fully immersed himself in the life of a racing stable, riding in point-to-point races and as a professional under National Hunt rules. His first winner was aboard Ocean Gem in a novice chase at Folkestone. David launched his training career at Exeter House in 1959, moving from there to Ellesmre House, while in 1962 he took charge at Harraton Court Stables, purchasing them from the Galpins. At that time he continued to ride professionally, although his final winner was on Whitehall Bloom for Peter Poston in a Uttoxeter Selling Hurdle. He enjoyed early success as a trainer, saddling Narratus to land the 1962 Great Metropolitan Handicap, while in 1963 Narratus won the prestigious Chester Cup. He gained his first Royal Ascot success in 1965 when Prince Hansel won the Bessborough Stakes, also going on to score in the Amateur riders Derby, the Moet & Chandon Silver Magnum when partnered by John Oaksey, and later the Doncaster Cup. Although Thom enjoyed many successes on the flat, he trained Master Mascus to win the Compton Chase at Newbury before going on to land the Tote Investors Handicap Chase at Ascot, as well as a further 9 victories on the flat and over jumps. In 1982 a young Barney Curley came over from Ireland to act as assistant trainer at Harraton Court Stables, later going on to train in his own right at Cleveland House Stables. Thom guided Absent Chimes to victory in the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and gained a second Royal Ascot win when Touch of Grey won the fiercely competitive 1986 Wokingham Stakes. Thom retired at the end of the 1999 season, although he was to only enjoy 6 years of retirement as he was tragically killed in a road accident on Friday 18th February 2005 in Burwell aged 79.
1962 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom NARRATUS 100/7 owned by Mr R V Stone, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Eph Smith
1963 Chester Cup NARRATUS 8/1 owned by Mr D Symonds, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Yates
1965 Woking Handicap Hurdle MASTER MASCUS 8/1 owned by J Bairstow, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Nicholson
1965 Compton Chase at Newbury MASTER MASCUS owned by J Bairstow, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Nicholson
1965 Bessborough Stakes PRINCE HANSEL 100/8 owned by Mr J Barker, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Garnie Bougoure
1965 Moet & Chandon Silver Magnum PRINCE HANSEL 7/4 fav owned by Mr J Barker, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by John Lawrence (Lord Oaksey)
1965 Bentinck Stakes PRINCE HANSEL 7/2 owned by Mr J Barker, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Johnnie Roe
1965 Doncaster Cup PRINCE HANSEL 2/1 owned by Mr J Barker, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Yates
1966 Tote Investors Cahse at Ascot MASTER MASCUS 4/1 owned by J Bairstow, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Nicholson
1966 Crispin Handicap Chase MASTER MASCUS 9/4 owned by J Bairstow, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by David Nicholson
1984 Molecomb Stakes ABSENT CHIMES 11/4 fav trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Philip Robinson
1986 Wokingham Stakes TOUCH OF GREY 20/1 pwned by Tom Jennings, trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Taffy Thomas
1989 Flavel-Leisure Hurdle at Newbury JOPANINI 4/1 trained by Dave Thom and ridden by Declan Murphy

1982 Barney Curley
Barney Curley came over from his native Ireland in 1982 to act as assistant to Dave Thom at Harraton Court Stables, branching out on his own as a trainer a few years later. Sometime afterwards he purchased the 34-box Cleveland House Stables on Hamilton Road, Newmarket.

2020 Harraton House: Sydney Ricketts
Harraton House is currently occupied by the vet Sydney Ricketts.

2000-2011 Harraton Court Stables Hugh Collingridge
Hugh Collingridge was born on 1st October 1947 and enjoyed success on a small scale in Newmarket for over 40 years. In 1979, after Beverley House stables had been empty for 4 years Hugh purchased the stables and made the brave decision to sell Beverley House but develop the stables. He enjoyed a number of high-profile successes during his time at the stables, notably with Buzzards Bay and Cuvee Charlie. In 1982 Buzzards Bay shocked racegoers by landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at 50/1 for owner Mrs Vera McKinney, and also landed the Royal Hunt Cup in the same year at 14/1. In 1988 Collingridge trained Cuvee Charlie to win the Lincoln Handicap in the hands of Mark Rimmer. Hugh brought on a number of apprentices in his time at Beverley House, including Carl Hawksley who rode his first winner, Kath's Choice (14/1) at Folkestone on 16th July 1991 for Hugh, and joined Beverley House Stables in 1992. Hugh continued to trained at Beverley House, although in 1997 John Berry took over at Beverley House. Hugh took out a lease on Harraton Court Stables, later renting them from Darryll Holland after he took ownership in 2008. Hugh announced his retirement from the training ranks in January 2011.

2008-2011 Harraton Court Stables Darryll Holland
A local newspaper announced in 2008 that Peter Merchant, a property specialist and father-in-law of jockey Darryll Holland, had purchased Harraton Court Stables as a present for Peter's daughter Jacqui and her husband Darryll. Although at that point Darryll was still riding, the gift provided him with a base from which to train if he chose to do so. Hugh Collingridge continued to rent the training establishment from Darryll, and in April 2010 Darryll negotiated a deal with Loddon whereby Loddon would fit 17 new horse boxes as part of a renovation project at Harraton Court, and in return Darryll would sport the Loddon logo on his riding breeches. In 2011, when Hugh Collingridge retired, Darryll was ready to sell Harraton Court Stables.

2011-2013 Harraton Court Stables Des Donovan
In 2009 Des Donovan launched his training career which lasted for an initial 4-year period, spending the latter part of the 4 years at Harraton Court Stables. When he moved on the stables were taken over by Noel Quinlan.

2013 Harraton Court Stables Noel Quinlan
Noel Quinlan took over the licence from brother Mick in 2011, 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.

2018-March 2020 Harraton Lodge Stables Shaun Keightley
Shaun Keightley, who had a close association with La Grange stables and a racing stable in Melton Mowbray, launched his training career in 2003, enjoying 18 winners in the early part of his career. However, when Red Lancer (13/2) ran unplaced, beaten over 20 lengths, in a seller at Wolverhampton on 20th October 2003, having won a similar seller at the same track by 2 1/2 lengths on 20th September 2003, the Jockey Club announced that they were looking into the running of the horse. The case took almost 2 years to be examined, but in 2005 Shaun was warned off for 3 years, and banned from applying to renew his licence for a further 2 years. After an absence of 13 years from the training ranks, Shaun began training again in 2018, basing himself at Harraton Lodge Stables.

Nov 2000-present Harraton Stud Stables Julia Feilden
Julia Feilden, daughter of racehorse trainer Peter Feilden, was born in Hove, Sussex when her father trained at Ditchling. He later moved to Exning to train at Harraton Stables. Julia began riding out at Gordon Smyth's stables in Lewes as a teenager, and took up her first post in a racing stable as secretary to Clive Brittain at Carlbug Stables aged 18, where she also rode as an amateur. She then moved to Patrick Haslam's stables before training young jockeys at the British Racing School. In November 2000 she successfully applied for her own trainer's licence, starting to train at Harraton Stud Stable in 2001. In 2003 she guided King Flyer to victory at Newmarket, while in 2005 her stable star was the filly Najaaba, bought for less than £1000 but crowned Racing Post All-Weather Horse of the season. Arguably her best horse to date was Spirit of Sharjah who won his first two races prior to coming third in the 2007 Norfolk Stakes behind Winker Watson, the 2/1 favourite. Spirit of Sharjah went on to land victories in the Leicestershire Stakes and Sunbury Stakes at Kempton.
2003 Laing O'Rourke Handicap at Newmarket KING FLYER 20/1 owned by Mr J W Jenkins, trained by Julia Feilden and ridden by Simon Whitworth
2007 Aubigny Stakes at Goodwood SPIRIT OF SHARJAH 4/7 fav owned by Mr A Dee, trained by Julia Feilden and ridden by Jimmy Fortune
2010 Leicestershire Stakes SPIRIT OF SHARJAH 7/2 owned by Mr A Dee, trained by Julia Feilden and ridden by Frankie Dettori
2010 Ladbrokes Odds on Card Handicap at Lingfield SPIRIT OF SHARJAH 10/1 owned by Mr A Dee, trained by Julia Feilden and ridden by Joe Fanning
2010 Sunbury Stakes at Kempton SPIRIT OF SHARJAH 20/1 owned by Mr A Dee, trained by Julia Feilden and ridden by Jimmy Quinn

2018-present Harraton Lodge Stables Mohamed Moubarak
Mohamed Moubarak was born in Lebanon, moving to Ireland aged 16 to work for John Oxx, Paddy Mullins and Vincent O'Brien. He launched his own training career in 1989 at Green Ridge Stables, supported by his principal owner Mahmoud Fustok, brother-in-law of the Saudi Crown Prince. His time at Green Ridge was successful, winning the 1992 Mill Reef Stakes with Forest Wind, the 1991 Yorkshire Oaks with Magnificent Star, the 1991 Duke of York Stakes with Green Line Express, and the 1991 Royal Lodge Stakes with Made of Gold. In 1992 Moubarak moved to the USA, once again supported by Mohamed Fustok, at Buckram Oak Farm. Tragedy struck in February 2006 when Mahmoud Fustok was killed by a car whilst jogging on North Pompano Beach Boulevard. Moubarak returned to England in 2016, basing himself initially at Linden Lodge Stables, before transferring to Harraton Lodge Stables.

March 2020-January 2021 Harraton Stables Richard Guest
Richard Charles Guest, son of former jockey Charlie Guest, and brother of trainers Rae and Lady Jane Cecil, was born at Andover, Hampshire on 10th July 1965. He spent his early teens with Jeremy Hindley at Clarehaven Stables, then moved a short distance to Freemason Lodge to join Michael Stoute at the time Shergar was the stable star. Richard then joined Toby Balding at Weyhill, near to his birthplace, winning the 1987 County Hurdle aboard Neblin at the Cheltenham Festival. Later in the season he won the valuable Bic Razor Gold Cup at Lingfield on Tigerwood. However, the pinnacle of his riding career was reached when he partnered Beech Road to an unexpected 50/1 victory in the 1989 Champion Hurdle for owner Tony Geake and trainer Toby Balding. Richard then spent a period where he found winners hard to come by, but he bounced back in 2001 when atrocious conditions at Aintree on Grand National day, Saturday 7th April 2001, meant that anything could happen. Just 4 horses were able to complete the course that day, Richard driving Red Marauder (33/1) to victory by a distance over Smarty, with Blowing Wind and Papillon the only other 2 finishers a further distance behind. He retired from race riding to launch his training career in 2003, basing himself at Brancepeth Manor, County Durham before moving on to Wetherby, West Yorkshire. In 2019 he trained horses for Simon Lockyer, and Simon purchased Harraton Stables in March 2020, installing Richard as trainer.

February 2021-present Darryll Holland

Darryll Holland purchased Harraton Stables in 2008, but it was not until February 2021 that the Group 1 winning jockey teamed up with 6-times Champion Jockey Kieren Fallon to form a 'dream team' and launch their joint training careers.

ISBN 978-0-9957632-0-3

652 pages

774 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-1-0

352 pages

400 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-2-7

180 pages

140 former courses

ISBN 978-0-9957632-3-4

264 pages

235 former courses