1985-1997 Ron Boss
Ron Boss was born in Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, and after spending 10 years as assistant trainer in Lewes he moved to Newmarket in 1972. In 1976, when he arrived at La Grange, taking charge in November after the tragic death of Atty Corbett, and he enjoyed immediate success. In 1977 he saddled Olwyn to win the Irish Oaks by a short head ridden by Kipper Lynch whilst still a maiden, from Sassabunda. In 1979 Alan Bond was appointed stable jockey on the back of winning the apprentice championship in both 1974, with 40 winners, and 1975 with 66 winners. In 1985 he was replaced at La Grange by Geoff Huffer and made his way to his newly built Linden Lodge Stables on the Hamilton Road which Ron named Phoenix Stables. Even today there is a silhouette of a Phoenix on the gate. Ron's most successful period was in the late 1980s when he won consecutive runnings of the Middle Park Stakes. In 1988 Mon Tresor, owned by Pam Fitsall, won in the hands of Michael Roberts, while in 1989 it was the turn of Bala Cove ridden by Steve Cauthen. Ron retired as a trainer in 1997 after spending 25 years in Newmarket.
1988 Middle Park Stakes MON TRESOR 8/1 owned by Pam Fitsall, trained by Ron Boss and ridden by Michael Roberts
1988 Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden Baden MON TRESOR owned by Pam Fistall, trained by Ron Boss and ridden by Richard Quinn
1989 Whitchurch Stakes at Salisbury BALA COVE 12/1 owned by Harvey Cohen, trained by Ron Boss and ridden by Steve Cauthen
1989 Middle Park Stakes BALA COVE 20/1 owned by Harvey Cohen, trained by Ron Boss and ridden by Steve Cauthen
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.
1998-2007 Greg Chung & Coralie Chung
Greg Chung, born in England but raised in Hong Kong, took charge of Linden Lodge Stables in 1998 after the retirement of Ron Boss at the end of the 1997 season. At that time the racing establishment consisted of a 4-bedroomed house and a 2-bedroomed flat, as well as 55 boxes, but throughout his time at Linden Lodge Chung rented out those boxes which were surplus to requirements. His wife, Coralie, owned Rowley Saddlery, a Master Saddler and Harness making firm. Greg's best year was 2006 when he trained 15 winners, boosted in part by the success of Royal Amnesty who recorded 5 wins. In 2005 he rented out boxes to David Simcock, while in 2006 he was looking to sell Linden Lodge and upsize.
2006 First Past Post Selling Stakes at Wolverhampton ROYAL AMNESTY 8/1 owned by H C Chug, trained by Greg Chung and ridden by Oscar Urbina
2006 Sponsor A Race Handicap at Wolverhampton ROYAL AMNESTY 9/2 owned by H C Chug, trained by Greg Chung and ridden by Oscar Urbina
2006 Tony & Beverley 25th Anniversary Handicap at Kempton ROYAL AMNESTY 7/2 owned by H C Chug, trained by Greg Chung and ridden by Oscar Urbina
2006 Provincial London Mile Handicap Qualifier at Kempton ROYAL AMNESTY 9/2 owned by H C Chug, trained by Greg Chung and ridden by Oscar Urbina
2003 Deborah Mountain
In 2003 Deborah Mountain rented 20 boxes at Linden Lodge from owner Greg Chung and achieved success with African Sahara, a horse she had purchased from Chung in May 2003. The colt landed two minor races at Redcar and Lingfield, but also won the Summer Mile Handicap 16/1 in the hands of Gary Carter. In honour of the horse, Debbie named her rented section of the stables Sahara Stables. She later moved to Qatar where, in 2018, she trained Full Moon to land the Qatar Derby. In 2020 she was still training horses running at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club racecourse in Doha.
2003 Redcar Classified Stakes AFRICAN SAHARA 2/1 owned and trained by Debbie Mountain and ridden by Dominic Fox
2003 Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap AFRICAN SAHARA 10/1 owned and trained by Debbie Mountain and ridden by Gary Carter
2003 Summer Mile Handicap at Sandown AFRICAN SAHARA 16/1 owned and trained by Debbie Mountain and ridden by Gary Carter
2004-05 David Simcock
David Simcock marked his entry into the training ranks on St Valentine's Day, 14th February 2004, the day he and Jennie became engaged, winning the appropriately named 'Miss Julie Andrews, Will You Marry Me Stakes' at Lingfield, with his very first runner Cut A Dash, owned by Trillium Place Racing. He had just taken over at Trillium Place, ideally placed on Birdcage Walk, with immediate access to all of the major Newmarket gallops. He is also reported to have rented some boxes from Greg Chung at Linden Lodge Stables, although this arrangement came to an end in 2005. Since that wonderful day of double celebration David, ably supported by his wife, has grown his business and reputation, both in this country and on the wider International arena.
2016-17 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.
January 2020-December 2020 Jessica Quinlan
Jessica Quinlan, 24-year-old sister of Jack Quinlan, who was beginning to make a name for himself in 2020, launched her training career in January 2020 at Linden Lodge Stables. She began training for the Arabian Racing Organisation, notching her first winner on 5th September 2020 at Wolverhampton with Al Shaamikh in the Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden Stakes, following up 2 weeks later in the Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton.
2020 Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden Stakes AL SHAAMIKH owned by Mohamed Fahad Ah Al-Attiyah, trained by Jessica Quinlan and ridden by Lewis Edmunds
2020 Emirates Breeders Novice Stakes AL SHAAMIKH 4/1 owned by Mohamed Fahad Ah Al-Attiyah, trained by Jessica Quinlan and ridden by Daniel Muscutt
January 2021-present Hilal Kobeissi
A new trainer to Newmarket, Hilal Kobeissi joined the training ranks in readiness for the 2021 season, operating from Linden Lodge Stables.
