Some Links to Web Sites of Interest
Racecourses in the Royal County of Berkshire
Newbury Racecourse, where the West Berkshire Racing Club is based, is one of the finest sporting venues in the UK, with 28 racedays throughout the year, both Flat and National Hunt, and over £2,000,000 in prize money.Features include the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup over the jumps, and the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes is one of the many features during the summer flat racing season.
Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, and is still the property of the British Crown. Ascot Racecourse is probably the world’s most famous racecourse. Ascot stages 25 days of racing throughout the year, both Flat and National Hunt. The Royal Meeting, held in June is undoubtedly the most famous of these, where top class racing is combined with tradition, pageantry and style.
Royal Windsor Racecourse is set on an island in 165 acres of beautiful Berkshire countryside. The River Thames runs around the racecourse and Windsor Castle can be seen in the distance through the mature trees. 24 race meetings are held each year and racegoers can even travel to the racecourse by boat!
Other Notable Racecourses
Cheltenham Racecourse is the spiritual home of National Hunt racing, staging a series of crucial staging posts in the build-up to The Festival in March. From the Open in November, featuring the Paddy Power Gold Cup, through the Boylesports International a month later, and Festival Trials Day in January, each meeting provides racing of the highest quality in the wonderful setting of Cleeve Hill. With good transport links to London, the South West and Midlands, Cheltenham continues to attract runners from all over the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, and with them the spectators who love to see the sport at its best.Racehorse Trainers
West Berkshire Racing Club is based only a few miles from Lambourn, Berkshire, the "Valley of the Racehorse", one of the main centres for racehorse training within the UK, with approaching 2000 racehorses in training. Racehorse trainers in, or near Lambourn belong to the Lambourn Trainers Association, whose President, Peter Walwyn, is also President of the West Berkshire Racing Club. The Lambourn Trainers Association also organises the annual Lambourn Open Day, whose proceeds go to the The Lambourn Valley Housing Trust, a registered charity, which raises money to provide homes for both retired and working stable staff.Racehorse Rehabilitation
Millions of racegoers are swept away by the excitement during a race, but does anyone think about the 'also ran' whose career is coming to a close and whose future may by uncertain? A very large number of racehorses leave the racing industry every year and sadly a significant number of these horses fall on hard times through lack of care, understanding, experience, attention and love. There are a small number of organisations in the UK that provide a 'safety net' for horses that have fallen on hard times after their racing days are over. Their role is to restore these horses to both physical and mental fitness, and to retrain them for happy and useful lives in other disciplines.Greatwood Caring For Retired Racehorses is based near Marlborough in Wiltshire and is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of racehorses, particularly those that have fallen on hard times. Established in Devon 13 years ago, Greatwood is a registered charity that aims to provide the racehorses that enter the Charity with safe secure and rewarding futures. Rehomed horses remain the property of Greatwood for the rest of their lives.
Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre is based at Huntingrove Stud, a delightful location in the West Sussex countryside, and takes thoroughbred racehorses which have finished their racing days, for whatever reason, assesses, re-schools and ultimately rehomes them.. All the horses remain the property of the MRWC at all times.
The Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre, based at Nateby near Preston in Lancashire, is the original charity dedicated to rehabilitating and rehoming thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. Founded in 1991 by Carrie Humble, who remains the director, the TRC gained charitable status in 1993. The patrons are Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Lord Oaksey, The Marquess of Zetland, Frankie Dettori and Peter Humble.
We have tried to provide links to a variety of web sites that may be of interest. We have arranged them loosely into categories. If you know a web site that is not included but feel that it should be, please send the details to the West Berkshire Racing Club Webmaster.