2007 Trainee Views

Newmarket, October - December 2007

After a great time in Ireland the team packed up everything for the next part of the course, held in England. The transit ran smoothly, thanks in no small part to the ever-reliable bus driver Johnny Page, however the Ryanair operation at Dublin airport did its level best to make it almost impossible to get to the gate before the flight closed!

In England we are based in an accommodation block next to the main office at Darley’s Dalham Hall stud just outside Newmarket. Those members of the group who hadn’t been here before were impressed by the fact that Newmarket is a town solely built around horseracing. It remains an amazing sight seeing horses pulling out from trainer’s yards right in the middle of town and walking down the streets and pavements to get to the Public Gallops which surround the town from all angles. With Tattersalls based near the main street and numerous studs in the surrounding countryside there has been plenty to see in our short seven-week stay.

During the first week much of our time was spent familiarising ourselves with the surroundings, we toured the Darley studs and visited both the Jockey Club gallops and the historic Jockey Club rooms themselves. There was also a trip to London as those non- American’s had to visit the US Embassy in order to complete their visa applications. While the visa applicants completed their interviews, the Americans were free to take in the sights and sounds that London had to offer and by all reports had a great time before everyone met up late in the afternoon. On the Saturday of the first week everyone went racing at Newmarket’s Rowley mile racecourse, which again was a contrasting experience for many with different opinions including some who thought it was ‘the most ridiculous racecourse on Earth’. A popular lecture was also given by James Willoughby, the Racing Post’s chief correspondent, on the benefits of sectional timing.

The second week was mostly taken up with lectures on a wide variety of topics from one on equine fertility by Professor Twink Allen to Jonny McIrvine of Lycetts Hamilton talking about different aspects of Insurance. There were also three great visits, with Diana Cooper giving us an insight into Sheikh Mohammed’s magnificent Godolphin stables at Moulton Paddocks, Andrew Snell showing us around the delightful Cheveley Park stud, whilst Johnny Peter-Hoblyn gave us a tour of Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud which is probably unlike any other stud farm on earth being part of the vast Shadwell shooting and arable estate.

For the next three weeks the group was split into three groups of four and each morning were either placed in the British Racing School, the office at Dalham Hall, or Darley’s Pre-Training and breaking yard at Hamilton Hill in Newmarket. People seemed to particularly enjoy working at the Hamilton Hill facility, where characters such as Steve, Les, Darren, Declan,’ Speedy’, and ‘Dukey’ offered invaluable advice and allowed us to hone our breaking in skills further. The staff in the office at Dalham Hall were also very welcoming and helpful. It was good to get an insight into the day-to-day administration of the Darley operation. The BRS rotation covered essential horse skills to make sure we were putting the theory into practice, and we all passed the plaiting skills test with flying colours, with Leif’s efforts to the fore!

Everybody then attended the Tattersalls December sales, where the trade was highlighted by a dispersal of the Sangster Family’s bloodstock empire. There were also a series of lectures with the highlights being Dalham Hall Stud manager, Liam O’Rourke, and the thoughts of British and Irish racing legend Barney Curley.

Away from the course elements, the social scene has been very enjoyable in Newmarket. There was a great party to celebrate Admire Moon’s Japan Cup victory where everyone was on great form and best behaviour! The American members of the group threw a great Thanksgiving Dinner, however their varying historical explanations left everyone else unsure of what it was all in aid of! Almost half the group headed off for a weekend of high class National Hunt racing at Cheltenham’s Open meeting, sadly the Sunday was the coldest many people are likely to ever be on a racecourse. Martin Mitchell, of Tattersalls, was also very generous in taking the group to lunch, with everyone having a great time at the historic Park Paddocks complex.

The sales in general allowed opportunity for the group to meet a great amount of new people round the town with Mick ‘meet and greet’ Flanagan getting the medal of honour for the most consistent amount of socialising. There were also numerous antipodeans over for the sales, which allowed Andy and Liam to meet up with a few faces from home and Jana saw some familiar faces from the Czech Republic.

Our last week here is to be taken up mostly with visits to Weatherbys, the National Stud, and leading Newmarket trainer Jeremy Noseda’s yard. Everyone’s efforts are then rewarded with two weeks holiday. Those from Europe and the US look set to return home before meeting up in Kentucky for the New Year, the sun-deprived Jason is heading home to Perth, Western Australia, for a couple of weeks, whilst Liam and Andy plan to travel in Europe before heading across the pond. Many thanks to our UK coordinator, Trisha McMurray, and the management at Dalham Hall Stud for a wonderful stay in Newmarket. Next stop Lexington!

Jana & James

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At Tattersalls restaurant.