My day begun with a tour of the famous Newmarket Heath which is the galloping ground for race horses and there was a number of trainers and their horses already doing their daily routines when we arrived, I was then shown a number of other interesting places around Newmarket all connected to horse racing in some way including places like the new All-Weather training track \u2018AL BAHATHRI GALLOP\u2019 recently built by the older brother of Sheikh Mohammed.<\/p>\n
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After this, I was then introduced to Sir Mark Prescott at his stables \u2018Heath House\u2019 as he was doing one of his training sessions with a string of his horses. We joined as they were cantering round his \u2018Indoor ride\u2019 and had plenty of time to chat as he began putting the horses and riders through the days routine.<\/p>\n
I then accompanied him out onto the gallops as the training session continued before ending the session on \u2018Warren Hill Spinney\u2019 this is where the horses picked at the grass. I was told this is something he always does after they have been worked because it helps them to relax and keeps them happy before returning back to the stables.<\/p>\n
While chatting with Sir Mark I quickly began to understand the level (if not the detail) involved in maintaining the health and happiness of these magnificent animals while getting them ready and race fit. He was pointing things out during training that I still could not see, yet to him it was telling him so much about how that horse was feeling, what it wanted and what he needed to then do.<\/p>\n
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Very similar to trading the markets, when an experienced trader can interpret what their seeing often quite quickly and easily whereas for those who are new to trading every market will look and seem to behave exactly the same, even as someone points out some signs as to what to look for and do next actually still seeing this takes time and recognising these for yourself takes even longer.<\/p>\n
Newmarket Races<\/strong><\/p>\n During the afternoon we visited Newmarket races (July Course) where I was given pretty much access all area\u2019s so rather than spend too much time in the stands or usual parade ring instead took advantage of this and went around other area\u2019s like the weigh-in rooms before accompanying the starter down to the start for one of the races. Chatting with him was also quite interesting as I\u2019m sure most people like me can sometimes get annoyed with what looks like a lackadaisical approach to getting races away on time. But I learnt that among starters there is actually a lot of pride and competitiveness in wanting to get their races off as close to post as possible. I even learned there was a database which all starters update after each race on how a horse behaves at the start which then determines which order they go in the stalls at future races, it has nothing to do with who wants to go in first or even what a jockey wants.<\/p>\n I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day from start to finish and very grateful for being given the experience. I’ve spent years associating race horses as nothing but numbers changing on a screen. So it was great to finally see and get an understanding of how the industry works and get a true idea of all the hard work that gets put in on a daily basis into maintaining these animals.<\/p>\n Newmarket Open Weekend<\/strong><\/p>\n During September there just happens to be the perfect opportunity for anyone also wanting to get a look behind the scenes and see the home of British horseracing as Newmarket hosts its annual open weekend where the public can get up close and see how the racing industry works for themselves, this includes access to the training gallops, jockey club, racing school, Tattersalls etc, and on Sunday a number of stables and trainers will also open their yards for the public to have a good look around and see what they do with staff on hand to answer questions, even the equine hospital is opening its doors.<\/p>\n It will make a great family day out with lots of the usual family stuff also happening so well worth checking even if not this year then maybe next year. Click below for details: –<\/p>\n