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In line with National Racehorse Week, the Henry Cecil Open Weekend will take place as scheduled this coming weekend, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September. Throughout the weekend we will pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and reflect on her lifelong love of horseracing.
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Former champion sprinter Battaash will be making a welcome return to the museum! Retired last year at the age of the seven, Battaash, owned by Shadwell Estates and trained by Charlie Hills won 13 of his 25 starts including four Group 1’s over 6 seasons. He displayed a record-breaking win in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 2019 and his total career winnings amounted to over £1.7million.
Any visitor wearing an Open Weekend wristband will be able to meet him at the National Horseracing Museum approximately on the hour, from 10am – 4pm on Saturday, 17th September, and approximately on the hour from 10am – 12pm on Sunday, 18thSeptember!
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Discover Newmarket tours during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend are selling very fast!
The 10am tour of The National Stud is now SOLD OUT!
Book now to avoid disappointment, places remain on the 12pm and 2pm tour at The National Stud and the 1pm and 2pm tours of the Jockey Club Rooms.
Pre booking is required, please email admin@discovernewmarket.co.uk or call 01638 501122.
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Following a record year in 2021, the Henry Cecil Open Weekend is looking forward to welcoming visitors once again to British horseracing’s HQ on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September 2022.
Each September, racing and equine enthusiasts descend on Newmarket for an action-packed weekend of events and a chance to delve behind the scenes at Britain’s best-known racing yards. Last year saw George Boughey and Harry Eustace open, both now Royal Ascot winning trainers, as well as Charlie Fellowes, James Ferguson, Roger Varian and Simon & Ed Crisford, to name just a few.
The highest number of yards opened to the public in 2021, with record crowds raising £60,000 for the event’s chosen charity partners. The 2022 Henry Cecil Open Weekend will continue to support the racing industry and its workforce whilst also supporting the local community.
Money raised this year will be donated to the long-term charity partner and main beneficiary Racing Welfare, as well as the National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket Day Centre and the Newmarket Heath Ambulance, a fundraising initiative to purchase a quick response unit for work riders on Newmarket Heath.
The Henry Cecil Open Weekend marks the beginning of The Newmarket Gold Season, a four-week period which showcases Newmarket as a hub for the international horse racing industry, and the finale of National Racehorse Week (10th-18th September) – a nationwide annual celebration of the racehorse and the care they receive from racing staff.
Charlie Fellowes, Chairman of The Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said:
“Last year we saw huge numbers of visitors to Newmarket during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend. It was fantastic to see and for everyone to experience all that our town has to offer.”
“A huge thank you must go to all those who continually support the event and enable the Open Weekend to happen. A particular thanks to all the trainers, racing staff, volunteers and participants, without whom the event would not be possible.”
“The Henry Cecil Open Weekend provides a unique insight and behind the scenes access into racing life in Newmarket and is a highlight for many horseracing fans. We are very much looking forward to the weekend and raising as much money as possible for our charity partners.”
George Boughey, Newmarket based Classic winning trainer, said: “We had a lot of people visit last year and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again this year. It is great that we can welcome people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to see the yards.’
“It is a chance to see all the horses behind-the-scenes and see all the hard work that goes in from all the staff. The show jumping is always a highlight, it brings a good crowd with some great riders showing off their talents.”
James Ferguson, Newmarket based trainer, added: “We need to try and gather as many people into this sport as we possibly can, and the Henry Cecil Open Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to do that. Everyone involved does a tremendous job at promoting our sport and the fact it is for charity is a bonus, but I just love seeing the look on people’s faces when they come to the yard.’
“Aside from the yards opening there’s some lovely events that go on, from the gymkhanas to the dog show, to the inter-yard events. You always see the competitive streak in the stable lads and lasses, especially the trainers.”
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SOLD OUT – Both tours to take place over the Open Weekend at The National Stud are now fully booked.
We would like to thank everyone for their interest and support. We have lots of other tours and excitements on offer over the weekend.
If you missed out, please note that The National Stud hosts tours throughout the year courtesy of Discover Newmarket. Please visit their website www.discovernewmarket.co.uk for more information.
Meet former champion sprinter Battaash at the National Horseracing Museum!
The Shadwell Estates star sprinter was retired last month at the age of seven. Trained by Charlie Hills, he won 13 of his 25 starts including four Group 1’s over six seasons. He displayed a record-breaking win in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in 2019 and his total career winnings amounted to over 1.7 million. Any visitor wearing an Open Weekend wristband will be able to meet Battaash and our other resident horses at NHRM when they show their wristband on Saturday or Sunday.
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Some of the newest additions to Newmarket’s training ranks will take part in the 2021 Henry Cecil Commentator Challenge, sponsored by Dr Johnny Hon, when the popular competition returns to the Rowley Mile on Saturday 18th September.
Trainers Kevin Philippart de Foy, Harry Eustace, Ed Crisford, George Boughey, James Ferguson and Tom Clover will take on 2020 virtual Commentator Challenge winner Danny Archer in the competition, which was first staged in 2015.
Archer, a racing journalist and presenter, was judged the winner in a public vote when the Commentator Challenge was staged during lockdown last year. His prize was a place in the line-up for this year’s event.
The challengers will each provide the live on-course commentaries for the seven races on Cesarewitch Trial Day, which marks the beginning of Newmarket’s Gold Season and forms an integral part of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend (18 – 19 September). As well as facing the pressure of delivering an accurate narration, the challengers will be hoping to capture the coveted Julian Wilson Award for best commentary.
Kevin Philippart de Foy, who began training in November last year, is one who is very much up for the challenge. He said: “When I was younger I used to watch replays of big races in France like the Arc de Triomphe and I would learn the commentaries and every single horse and repeat it back, just for fun, so I am really looking forward to the competition. I’ve been practising the last two furlongs of a few races and trying to learn the names of a few horses and jockeys and commentate on the race. I haven’t commentated on a proper race yet, but I will be well trained for it.”
Philippart de Foy, a Belgian national who learned much of his trade in France, suggested things may be even more difficult for him than for his counterparts, but he is determined not to let that cause an issue. He said: “I have the disadvantage of not doing it in my first language, but we’ll make it work! I am really looking forward to it, I am very excited. I think it’s a great initiative and it will be a very fun afternoon. I am someone who is very competitive and I like the challenge, when I do something I want do it well, so we’ll try to do our best.”
Commenting on the importance of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, he added: “It is a great opportunity to showcase the sport in Newmarket and show inside the racing yards. We are opening the yard, I am taking part in the Commentator Challenge and I will be taking part in the showjumping on Sunday afternoon as well, so we are trying to get involved as much as we can.”
Perhaps less well prepared is Harry Eustace, who confessed to having not yet done any practise. He said: “I’ve not done anything like this before, for good reason, but I’m sure that’s the point! I haven’t thought that far ahead and I don’t know how you would practise to be honest, but I’m sure Charlie [Fellowes] will give me some tips closer to the time.
“We’re lucky in that at least Kevin is there and English is his second language, so that gives us a head start on him at least!”
Also noting the significance of the event, he added: “It’s a great day to be involved in and one of the best days to attract fans of the sport and hopefully new fans, so anything we can do to encourage that and make the day better is a good thing surely, and I look forward to taking part.”
The Commentator Challenge will be run in aid of the beneficiaries of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, which are Racing Welfare, Newmarket Pony Academy, and the Yellow Brick Road Community Project. Donations can be made to the team or to the individual challengers via JustGiving at https://www.justgiving.com/team/commentatorchallenge21
Further information on the Henry Cecil Open Weekend can be found at https://www.thehenrycecilopenweekend.co.uk/
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The Henry Cecil Open Weekend looks forward to welcoming visitors back to Newmarket on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th September 2021.
Each September racing and equine enthusiasts descend on horseracing’s HQ for an action-packed weekend of events and a chance to delve behind the scenes at Britain’s best-known racing yards.
Last year, with the weekend unable to take place in its conventional format due to COVID-19, the event hosted its first virtual Open Weekend. The online offering proved a huge success with horseracing fans from around the world tuning in to view exciting stable tours and entertainment from Newmarket.
Thanks to the kind generosity of those who donated and supported the event, a total of £48,000 was raised by the virtual Open Weekend for its three chosen beneficiaries – Racing Welfare (80%), the British Racing School (10%), and the Racing Centre (10%).
This year’s Henry Cecil Open Weekend will continue to support racing staff in Newmarket and the wider local community by raising funds for Racing Welfare, the newly formed Newmarket Pony Academy, and a soon to be announced community project for all residents.
Charlie Fellowes, Chairman of The Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said:
“Despite the challenges last year, we were determined to keep the event running and help raise funds for our charities.
“A huge thanks to everyone who donated money and supported the first Virtual Henry Cecil Open Weekend. Your support not only helped us raise money for our beneficiaries, in a year where their fundraising was greatly affected, but also provided an opportunity for us to shine a positive light on horseracing.
“Following recent Government announcements, we plan to welcome back visitors to Newmarket this September. The Henry Cecil Open Weekend provides a unique insight into racing life at Newmarket and is a highlight for many horseracing fans. We are very much looking forward to the weekend.”
Dawn Goodfellow, Chief Executive of Racing Welfare, said:
“Racing Welfare is honoured to once again be one of the chosen charities of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend. Previous funds raised from the Henry Cecil Open Weekend have gone towards the refurbishment of MacDonald Buchanan House in Newmarket into high-quality, safe accommodation for young people entering the racing industry.
“Any funds raised from the 2021 Henry Cecil Open Weekend will go towards the upkeep of this essential accommodation and the support of the 18 young tenants who live there, helping them to gain independent living skills and giving them a happy, healthy start in their racing careers. We are incredibly grateful to the Henry Cecil Open Weekend committee and to all those who donate to this fantastic weekend of racing entertainment.”
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There are over 100 incredible lots on offer in the Great Racing Welfare Auction and just under one week left to get your bids in. The auction has been supported by some hugely generous donations from the racing industry and beyond, with lots including everything from ‘money can’t buy’ ultimate experiences to the chance to bid for a homemade cake a month for three months.
As ever, support from Newmarket’s racing community has been fantastic and there are some top drawer lots on offer for anyone who loves horseracing’s HQ:
Personal tour for two of Godolphin’s Moulton Paddocks with Charlie Appleby
Spend the morning with Charlie and his team, view the world-class facilities and meet some of your favourite Godolphin stars.
Overnight stay at the Jockey Club Rooms & personal National Stud tour for four –
A truly fantastic opportunity to enjoy an overnight stay in the historic and luxurious Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket town centre followed by a personal tour of the National Stud hosted by one of their experienced guides.
Newmarket Print Signed by Sir Henry Cecil
A framed print of Newmarket signed by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
Private tour of Dalham Hall Stud & hospitality at the Rowley Mile
Join Godolphin for a private tour of Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket with an afternoon’s racing and hospitality at the Rowley Mile Racecourse for four people during 2020/21.
Private tour and the Ultimate Newmarket Experience for four people
An all-day experience, incorporating a visit to the gallops, a trainer’s yard, the National Stud and the National Horse Racing Museum, including morning coffee and lunch.
Tour of Newmarket Equine Hospital for six people
Experience a private behind-the-scenes visit to this world renowned specialist veterinary centre which provides services for horses throughout the UK, Europe and internationally.
Overnight stay at the Three Blackbirds near Newmarket with dinner & breakfast
Enjoy an overnight stay for two people in the Barn at this stunning 17th Century village pub in Woodditton, situated in the picturesque heart of horse racing country near Newmarket.
Spend a full morning in the company of experienced stud manager Tom Blain in the stunning surroundings of Barton Stud, Newmarket.
All proceeds from the virtual auction will go towards Racing Welfare’s Covid-19 Emergency Appeal which is aiming to bridge the £500,000 income deficit faced by the charity due to the pandemic. Bidding is open until 8pm on Thursday 24th September. Click here for a full rundown on all of the lots on offer and to get bidding.
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The first Virtual Henry Cecil Open Weekend will take place online this weekend, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September, with free-to-view stable tours and behind the scenes action from British horseracing’s HQ available here on our website.
Viewers enjoying the action are encouraged to donate via our official fundraising page, with all money raised going to Racing Welfare, the British Racing School, and the Racing Centre.
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