Newmarket And The History Of The Home Of British Horse Racing
Suffolk: Home to the Sport of Kings
Suffolk: Home to the Sport of Kings
In the 1600s Newmarket was a fairly sleepy village, but this all changed the day King James I rode along an open stretch of Heathland and decided it would make the perfect venue for equestrian pursuits. Subsequently a grandstand was built on the heath and that was when the history of this small Suffolk town shifted forever.
Despite this, it was not until the reign of Charles II that Newmarket really gained prominence as the national venue of horseracing. He shared King James love of the saddle and from 1669 onwards moved his entire court to Suffolk twice a year for the racing season. As a result of this Newmarket became known as the unofficial capital as many of the countries affairs were carried out alongside racing, hawking and cock-fighting.
Newmarket: The heart of British Horseracing
Newmarket is still regarded as the HQ of British horseracing and is widely regarded as the greatest horseracing centre in the world but how did it achieve that status? The very first race took place on 18th March 1622 and was match race between a horse belonging to Lord Salisbury and a horse belonging to the Marquis of Buckingham. Buckinghams horse won, securing him a prize worth 100, which was an enormous sum at the time.
Many famous horses and jockeys have graced the Newmarket tracks. One of the most famous (but also most tragic) is Fred Archer. Born in Cheltenham on 11th January 1857, by the time he was 9 he had already become an apprentice to a Newmarket trainer. His first ever win (and also his first race) was just over 3 years later aged 13. He then went on to win 21 English Classics, 6 of which were won in Newmarket. With a total of 8,084 rides, Fred managed to amass 2,784 wins, an unrivalled strike rate of 34%. Despite this he struggled desperately with his weight and as he grew older began taking a concoction known as Archers Mixture, basically a crude and potent laxative. In 1886 following his wifes death and his own increasing illness, Archer shot himself aged just 29 years old. Over the years there have been many reported sightings of his ghostly presence passing through the Newmarket stables.
The Jockey Club, Newmarket
The Jockey Club was originally formed in order to create rules to insure horse racing in Newmarket was run fairly. These rules proved so successful they were eventually adopted by racecourses across the country and then internationally. Soon The Jockey Club became the official governing body of horse racing in England, and all from a leased coffee shop in the heart of Newmarket which soon became known as The Jockey Club Rooms.
The Jockey Club Rooms have been at the heart of British racing for over 250 years and over time they have had some renowned members. Indeed records show at least six Prime Ministers were also members of the Jockey Club. The Jockey Club moved to London in the 1960's, but the magnificent Jockey Club Rooms remain in a very prominent position on Newmarket's High Street.
The Present Day
Racing is still extremely popular in Newmarket; in fact there are enough horses in the town for 1 in every 5 of Newmarkets 15,000 population to have their own horse. In addition to this, 1 in 3 people in Newmarket are employed in the world of racing and the sport remains the second most popular spectator sport in the UK.
Until recently The Jockey Club Rooms was a private members club, but now their doors are open to the public and they have built up a reputation as one of the most unique places to get married in Suffolk. Despite being situated in the heart of Newmarket, The Jockey Clubs immaculate walled gardens make for a tranquil setting. For those looking for wedding venues in Suffolk steeped in history, The Jockey Club Rooms certainly has plenty.
At their Newmarket venue they provide both civil ceremonies and wedding receptions all in the luxury of one of Suffolks most prestigious country house venues. Even if youre not interested in horse racing its hard not to be awed by the venues unrivalled collection of horse racing memorabilia. If you are passionate about horse racing, The Jockey Club Rooms offers the perfect opportunity for a themed wedding. You could name your tables after famous race winners; use silver wrapped chocolate horseshoes as wedding favours and make sure that you leave your wedding in a romantic horse-drawn carriage.
by: David West
Dry And Steam Carpet A Number Of Important Differences Between Them Acne Treatment-enjoy Fresh And Healthy Skin Valet Parking At Gatwick North And South Terminals Gardaland And The Halloween Party Modern And Free-flowing Bathroom Design Be Your Best Using These Awesome Self Improvement Tips And Tricks Web Data Mining Limitations And Challenges In Effective Unique And Stylish Fastrack Watches To Become The Center Of Attraction Effective Management And Association With Live Chat For Website Significant Travel And Shelter In Fnq Apartments Australia Your Daily Diet Can Be Healthier, Easy, And Satisfying The Google Updates And Search Engine Optimisation Cornwall Companies Shipping And Delivery Options At The Same Time