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2005 has been a great centenary year for Newbury
Racecourse, but the future looks even brighter, reports Tessa
Harris.
All eyes have been on Newbury this year. Not only has the
charming Berkshire racecourse been celebrating its centenary, it’s
also been voted the Racehorse Owners’ Association’s Racecourse of
the Year 2004.
The temporary closure of Ascot down the road for its £180 million
face-lift has also meant that more race goers than ever before have
turned their attention to the course that is regarded as one of the
finest sporting venues in the UK, with attendance up by more than 20
per cent in the last five years.
Newbury’s most famous race is the Hennessy Gold Cup, the most
important of the pre-Christmas steeplechases and one of the classics
of the racing calendar. Traditionally held in November, past winners
include such greats as Mill House and Arkle.
With 33 race-days, both Flat and National Hunt, an award-winning
Grandstand designed by Lord Foster and over £2,000,000 in prize
money on offer, it’s not difficult to see why Newbury is held in
such high regard.
“We’ve had a fabulous schedule of events for the whole 12 months,
covering everything from the large cocktail party launch in February
to the centenary ball in September,” says sponsorship and marketing
manager Lisa Ward.
Not content to rest on its laurels, however, the racecourse has just
unveiled plans for its own multi-million pound face-lift. These may
not be as dramatic, or as costly, as Ascot’s, but they will
certainly be an exciting improvement.
Within the next five years Newbury Racecourse plans to develop its
existing site into a premier international sports and leisure venue.
This will involve considerable investment in the infrastructure to
improve access by building a bridge over the existing railway line
to create a new and impressive entrance to the course from the
north. There will also be new facilities to enhance its growing
conference, event and leisure activities, which support the core
business of year-round horseracing.
One of the most exciting plans is the creation of an all-weather
track, due to start next spring, which will mirror the lay-out of
Newbury’s existing flat turf course, which is widely regarded as one
of the best tracks in the country.
“It will add an entirely new dimension to racing in this region, and
complement the industry’s drive towards raising the quality and
perception of all-weather racing,” said Newbury Racecourse managing
director Mark Kershaw.
It’s just one of the planned improvements, which also include a new
four-star hotel and an on-site equine training centre, that are set
to raise Newbury above the competition.
As developer Jonathon Strong put it: “We can’t stand still. There is
huge competition in the industry nowadays, not just from Ascot when
it re-opens, but from other courses too.”
It’s true that for much of the 1990s Newbury Racecourse was in
decline, with fewer race-goers and less income. That situation was
turned around in 1999, however, when a new board was appointed to
oversee a big programme of investment.
 Crowds have
increased by 50,000 in the last five years and proposed new road
links and a pedestrian walkway linking the town to the racecourse
are bound to improve the appeal. It’s clear that through sound
management and investment, coupled with the appeal of some of the
UK’s top racing, Newbury Racecourse is on a winning streak.
Racing Past
Newbury Racecourse actually owes its existence to the vision of one
man. John Porter was a renowned trainer, having trained several of
Edward VII’s horses in the late 1800s. In 1903 he had decided to
retire, but he was haunted by a 300-acre piece of land just outside
Newbury. He had passed it many times as he travelled on the great
Western Railway to London and nurtured a dream of creating a
racecourse there one day. In partnership with the land’s owner, Mr
L.H. Baxendale, he applied to the Jockey Club to build another
course. However, he was turned down on the grounds that there were
already too many. (There were actually 73 courses in 1903 as opposed
to 59 today).
Legend had it that a chance meeting with the King in Newmarket High
Street led to a reappraisal by the Jockey Club and the granting of a
licence. The first meeting took place in September 1905 and was
watched by an amazing 15,000 spectators.
 Although Ascot is
more often association with Royalty, Newbury, too, has played host
to many sporting monarchs. While Edward VII may have had a hand in
establishing the racecourse, King George V certainly enjoyed
watching his horses race there. Indeed, a horse he had bred himself,
named Limelight, won the 1933 Spring Cup. He later became the
official patron of the Newbury meetings.
Racing halted in 1916 and during World War I, the racecourse was put
to use as a prisoner of war camp and a tank testing and repair park,
amongst other things. When, in 1919, hooves were heard once more on
the turf, Newbury enjoyed a post-war boom until the outbreak of
World War II.
In 1942 the US Armed Forces thundered into Newbury and the
racecourse’s turf was buried beneath tons Centenary Painting Takes
Pride of Place at Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse has taken delivery of a specially commissioned
commemorative painting to mark its centenary year.
The painting, by the celebrated equestrian artist, John King, will
be hung in the Royal Box and depicts several famous racing scenes
from Newbury Racecourse in 2004.
These include typical scenes from the Racecourse enclosure and
paddock as well as the famous victories of Russian Rhythm in the
Juddmonte Lockinge and Celestial Gold in the Hennessy Cognac Gold
Cup.
There are also some familiar figures from the world of racing in the
paddock scenes.
John King is a much respected and highly acclaimed artist within
racing circles. In 2000 he was commissioned by Sheik Mohammed Al
Maktoum to paint one of his favourite stallions, the record-breaking
and virtually unbeatable, Dubai Millennium. At 16ft x 8ft, the
commission stands as the largest equestrian picture to be painted in
the last 200 years.
In 2002 he was also commissioned to paint the Lying in State of HM
The Queen Mother.
A total of 350 limited edition prints of the painting are available
for purchase from Newbury Racecourse at £125 – with all proceeds
going to the Racecourse’s four nominated Centenary charities: the
Spinal Injuries Association, Racing Welfare, Injured Jockeys
Association and Newbury Racecourse Centenary Charity Appeal.
 20 August 1949
At 13 years old Lester Piggott rides his first winner at Newbury
when Forest Glade, trained by his father Keith, wins the Apprentice
Handicap.
1952
The first full annual programme of racing since 1938 sees 20 days
racing – 10 on the flat and 10 over jumps.
6 October 1956
At 15 years old Josh Gifford rides a double on the flat prior to
changing codes and becoming both a champion National Hunt jockey and
leading trainer.
26 November 1960
The Hennessy Gold Cup is run at Newbury for the first time.
Knucklecracker trained and ridden by Derek Ancil comes out best of
the 20 runners.
March 1963
‘The Big Freeze’
Newbury’s December, January and February meetings are all abandoned
due to frost and snow. Apart from one day at Ayr on 6 January, no
racing takes place in Great Britain after Uttoxeter on 22 December
until Newbury gets things going again on 8 March.
27/28 September 1963
The Ascot September Meeting is transferred to Newbury due to the
rebuilding of the Ascot Members Grandstand. The Ascot May Meeting in
1964 is also transferred to Newbury.
 22 June 1966
The first evening meeting at Newbury is held.
20 April 1968
42 runners line up for the Compton Stakes. This was the last time
such a huge field would contest a race at Newbury as the
introduction of starting stalls and safety limits restricts fields.
25 May 1968
The first ever final of a national point to point championship is
added to the Lockinge Stakes flat race card.
Racing Fixtures
28/29 December: Centenary Finale Race Meeting: the Centenary year
bows out
in style.
For information on the 2006 Fixtures List visit
www.newbury-racecourse.co.uk
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