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 Southgate racing establishment on the Hamilton Road was, at one time, divided into 3 separate yards, but over time it has flitted between a single yard and up to 3 yards. The complex is located on the racecourse and gallops side of the Hamilton Road, providing easy access to the extensive Jockey Club gallops. To the right of Southgate Stables is Cedar Lodge, while on the left is Southgate Barn, Chestnut Tree Stables and Saffron Stables.
1986-1990 Ian Matthews
Ian Matthews, son of Lord Matthews, was born on 5th March 1962 and first took out a trainer's licence in 1986. He operated from Southgate Stables for 4 years and, in that time, sent out 50 winners on the Flat. He decided to hand in his licence in November 1989 to join a business in Jersey which his father, Lord Matthews, acquired. Former jockey Edward Hide became Matthew's Racing Manager, but in December 1990 Ian sold Southgate Stables to Julie Cecil.
1991-November 1998 Julie Cecil
Julie Cecil, daughter of Sir Noel Murless and former wife of Sir Henry Cecil, was born on 14th February 1942 and began training in her own right at Southgate Stables after the breakdown of her marriage to Sir Henry and the subsequent divorce. She purchased Southgate Stables from Ian Matthews in December 1990 and during that period in time the loyalties of Newmarket racing folk were divided between supporting Sir Henry, who had left his wife for a 22-year-old former stablehand Natalie Payne, and the much-loved Julie Cecil. Supporters of Julie were prepared to shift their horses from Sir Henry's care and install them into Southgate Stables, including horses owned by Stavros Niarchos, Sheikh Mohammed, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, Lord Howard de Walden and Prince Faisal. As an amateur lady rider she had won the Newmarket Town Plate in 1959 aboard Adam's Walk, and in 1984 was joint champion lady rider with 5 wins. Her best season as a trainer was in 1992 when she was supported by Lord Howard de Walden and trained 30 winners, having already proved her worth in 1991 by saddling Golan Heights to victory at Newmarket. She remained at Southgate for the next 8 years, notching up a total of 190 winners made up of 168 on the Flat and a further 22 over jumps, and at one time had a string of 60 horses. She relinquished her licence in 1998 due to poor health, but still enjoyed racing, and she died on 13th April 2022.
1994 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot GNEISS (10/1) owned by Matthew Oram, trained by Julie Cecil and ridden by Paul Eddery, dead-heated with River Deep (20/1)
1994 Select Stakes at Goodwood ALDERBROOK (7/2) owned by Ernie Pick trained by Julie Cecil and ridden by Paul Eddery
1994 Prix Dollar at Longchamp ALDERBROOK (39/10) owned by Ernie Pick trained by Julie Cecil and ridden by Paul Eddery
1994 Free Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow DARK DEN (2/1 fav) owned by George Ohrstrom, trained by Julie Cecil and ridden by T Kent
1994 Flavell Leisure Hurdle at Newbury DARK DEN (8/11 fav) owned by George Ohrstrom, trained by Julie Cecil and ridden by T Kent
March 1999-2010 Nick Littmoden
Nick Littmoden successfully applied for a trainer's licence in 1994, having served as assistant to Mick Masson before moving to a similar position with Jenny Pitman. In 1994 he was based at Southwell racecourse as a salaried trainer, handling just 3 horses, although part of his role, which he thoroughly enjoyed, was teaching aspiring trainers at a local college. He then transferred to another all-weather track, Wolverhampton, leasing his own yard. In March 1999 he realised his dream when taking over Southgate Stables, on the Hamilton Road in Newmarket, from Julie Cecil. He did hit an early problem when, in February 1999, he mistakenly wrote that he had already purchased Southgate Stables, earning him a small fine by the Jockey Club, but he quickly recovered from that minor error. He was particularly effective on the all-weather circuit, taking the top trainers title on 5 occasions.
November 2011-18 Tony Carson
Tony Carson, son of legendary Derby winning jockey Willie Carson, was destined to become a racehorse trainer. Even while still at school, aged 12, he was able to work as an apprentice at Sir Michael Stoute's Freemason Lodge Stables, after which he worked for Alex Stuart. He then assisted William Jarvis for 8 years at his Grand Lodge Stables, before gaining further experience with Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation for 9 years. In 2011 Willie Carson, already owner of Minster House Stud, near Cirencester, purchased Southgate Stables which, at that point, was divided into 3 yards, two of which were run by Tom Keddy and Mick Quinn. Willie installed son Tom, aged 48 at the time, into Southgate Stables in November 2011, starting with an initial string of 20 horses.
May 2018-present Amy Murphy
Amy Murphy studied for a Diploma in Horse Management at Hartpury College, but found the time to ride out for Dr Richard Newland and Nicky Henderson. After gaining triple distinction in her Diploma she embarked on a path which would lead her to become the youngest trainer at racing's Headquarters. She began working at Manor House Stables in Cheshire, owned by ex-footballer Michael Owen, and overseen by trainer Tom Dascombe. She was made Pupil Assistant in double-quick time, part of her role being to accompany horses to Deauville for their Summer meetings. She spent 2 years with Tom Dacsombe before widening her experience by taking a 6-month placement in Australia in 2012, basing herself with legendary Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse. She returned to the UK in April 2013, taking on the Pupil Assistant role at Luca Cumani's Bedford House Stables. In January 2015 she was promoted to Assistant Trainer, and successfully applied for her own licence in August 2016. Amy began by renting a few boxes from Michael Wigham at Hamilton Stables until the opportunity arose to purchase Southgate Stables from Willie Carson. She took charge of Southgate Stables in 2018, and planned to make use of all of the boxes on the site, which meant Mick Quinn leaving Southgate Barn Stables, and Tony Carson transferring to nearby Cedar Lodge Stables.
