Meet The Mini-Stars Of Racing This National Racehorse Week

Features | 15^th August 2024

It’s not just the sport’s trainers opening their doors to the public. Stud farms are also taking part to show off their fascinating work.

Here’s a look at five studs and what you can expect to see in a visit during National Racehorse Week.

National Racehorse Week is back to offer unmissable opportunities to see what goes on behind the scenes in British racing.

The eight-day celebration of the stars of the sport – the horses – takes place this year from Saturday 7 September to Sunday 15 September.

There is so much going on at more than a hundred events up and down the country, with fascinating displays, as well as the chance to meet the racehorses and see what wonderful lives they lead.

You can book your visit – and entry to the vast majority of events is free – now at https://nationalracehorseweek.uk/

New England Stud

Situated just a few furlongs from Newmarket’s July Course, New England Stud has been in the Stanley family for more than 70 years.

Set in 300 stunning acres of mature paddocks it is home to 25 mares – many of them familiar names to racing fans.

The stud is managed in conjunction with nearby Stanley House Stud, where top-class filly Ouija Board was bred by Peter Stanley for his brother Edward, the 19^th Earl of Derby.

Visitors to the stud on Thursday 12 September will enjoy a parade of the horses and they will be able to meet both the mares and the foals.

Their will be a hosted tour of the stud with the opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with breeding experts, exclusive to National Racehorse Week.

Newsells Stud

Some of the best known stallions will be on display when Newsells Park opens its doors as part of National Racehorse Week.

Nathanial had a superb racing career – despite having the misfortune to be a contemporary of Frankel. Among his victories were the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Coral-Eclipse Stakes.

Since retiring to stud he has been responsible for siring hundreds of winners including dual Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable and Derby winner Desert Crown.

He will be joined in the stallion parade by Without Parole and new addition A’ Ali when visitors are welcomed to the stud for two sessions on Thursday 12 September.

Newsells Park has grown into one of Europe’s foremost commercial stud farms. It is set in 1,200 acres near Royston in Hertfordshire.

Guests will be hosted in the stallion unit and you will learn about all aspects of the state-of-the-art stud.

Kirtlington Stud

Take a peek behind the gates of a stud that has been responsible for no less than 14 Classic winners.

It was founded in 1939 by Arthur Budgett at a site near to the current location, where Derby heroes Morston and Blakeney were bred.

A new purpose-built stud was created in 1990 in the Oxfordshire village of Kirtlington, a few miles west of Bicester, set in picturesque countryside.

It’s managed by Arthur’s youngest son Chris and, in 2010, in became the first British stud to foal, raise and consign a world champion when Harbinger capped an unbeaten season by winning Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by 11 lengths.

The family-run company has boarding facilities for foals, yearlings and broodmares, as well as offering consigning services for major sales.

Visitors to the open day on Tuesday 10 September will get to see a parade of the yearlings currently being prepared for the sales.

Chris will give an informative talk taking guests through all the work of the stud. There will then be a chance to meet the mares and foals to cap a memorable day.

Mildmay Farm and Stud

Visitors to the stud will get the unique opportunity to suggest a name for one of the yearlings being prepared for racing next year and even win a small share in the youngster.

It will cap a fascinating open day at the yard, just north of Whitchurch on the edge of the rolling chalkland pastures of the Hampshire Downs, on Wednesday 11 September.

There will be around 60 horses at the stud ranging from foals, yearlings and broodmares.

Guests during National Racehorse Week will see the yearlings being prepared for the sales and those being retained to go into training.

The stud manager will describe exactly what happens during the year from the foaling process to weaning, overwintering and sales preparation.

The stud was founded by Bridget Drew more than 20 years ago and now caters for all thoroughbred bloodstock requirements including foaling mares, visiting stallions, sales preparation and racehorse rehabilitation.

Mill Farm

Keith and Eileen Harte are keen to share what goes on behind the scenes of their family-run stud and explain the journey each horse takes from foaling to the racecourse.

Visitors to their yard, north of Braintree in the Essex countryside, on Wednesday 11 September will be shown the yearlings being prepared for the sales.

They will also get to see young weanling foals spending their first few weeks without their mothers and the mares enjoying their freedom.

Members of the stud team and the vet will be on hand to answer any questions.

The yard farrier will explain about racehorse conformation and how the development of the young stock is monitored.

The stud offers a wide range of services, including foaling, boarding for mares, weaning and sales preparation.