National Horseracing Museum facts for kids
.jpg)
The museum courtyard
|
|
| Established | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Location | Newmarket, Suffolk |
| Type | Sporting museum |
| Visitors | 18,601 (2022) |
The National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) is an exciting museum in Newmarket, Suffolk. It's all about the amazing history of horseracing! The museum covers a big 5-acre area right in the center of town.
It used to be in the Jockey Club Rooms on Newmarket High Street. Now, it's part of a larger place called the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art. This special center was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 2016. It also includes the British Sporting Art Trust and Retraining of Racehorses.
Contents
The Museum's History
The idea for the National Horseracing Museum came about in 1981. Major David Swannell, a handicapper for the Jockey Club, thought it would be a perfect idea. He wanted to create a national museum for horseracing.
Opening and Early Days
The museum first opened its doors on April 30, 1983. Queen Elizabeth officially opened it. A statue of Hyperion, a famous horse who won the 1933 Epsom Derby, stood at the entrance.
Moving to a New Home
In 2016, the National Horseracing Museum moved to its current location. It joined with the British Sporting Art Trust and Retraining of Racehorses. Together, they formed the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art. Queen Elizabeth opened this new center on November 3, 2016.
The new museum is built on the site of an old palace. This palace belonged to King Charles II. Only one part of the original palace, called Palace House, is still standing. The rest was taken down after Queen Victoria sold the property in 1857.
The stables of King Charles II were also removed. New buildings, like the Trainer's House and King's Yard Stables, were built instead. Later, in 1903, the Rothschild Yard and Stables were added.
Restoring Palace House
The Palace House estate was owned by the Rothschild family until 1985. After that, the buildings became run down. In 1992, the local council bought the property.
Palace House was then beautifully restored. This was possible with help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and English Heritage. It was used as a public building.
In 2005, a special group was set up to raise money for the new museum. This group was called the Home of Horseracing Trust. The new museum opened in 2016, and the project was completed.
What You Can See and Do
The museum's collections and displays are found in the Trainer's House and King's Yard Stables. You can learn about the history and science of horse racing.
Exhibits and Activities
The exhibits include cool paintings and jockey silks. You can see silks worn by famous jockeys like Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori. There's even a racehorse simulator you can try out! It feels like you're riding a racehorse. You'll also find other racing items and souvenirs.
In the Trainer's House, there's a gift shop and a second-hand bookshop. In the courtyard, you can find a cafe and restaurant. There's also a statue of the famous racehorse Frankel.
The British Sporting Art Trust
Palace House is the only part left of King Charles II's old palace. Today, it's home to the Fred Packard Museum and Galleries of British Sporting Art. This is where the British Sporting Art Trust has its offices.
Art Collection
The collection features amazing art by famous horse artists. These include George Stubbs, Sir Alfred Munnings, and Lucy Kemp-Welch. Besides paintings, the galleries show prints, sculptures, and everyday objects. All of these artworks celebrate sports, especially those involving horses.
Retraining of Racehorses
The Rothschild Yard is part of the museum grounds. It's home to a charity called Retraining of Racehorses. This charity helps retired racehorses learn new skills.
Meeting the Horses
You can see displays about the charity's important work. There are stables and paddocks for several retired racehorses. These horses stay at the yard temporarily while they are being retrained.
You can take tours of the grounds twice a day. On these tours, you can see the forge and the horse-walker. You can also watch the horses being trained in the Peter O'Sullevan arena. Sometimes, the arena hosts special shows. These shows might feature horseball or horseback falconry, often with retired racehorses. You might even see Suffolk Punch horses!
Awards and Recognition
The museum has won several awards for being a great place to visit.
- In 2017, it was one of five finalists for the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year award.
- In 2020, it won the small visitor attraction of the year award. This was at the East Anglian Daily Times Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards.
- In 2022, the museum was highly praised. It was a runner-up in the large museum category at the Suffolk Museum of the Year Awards.
See also
- Australian Racing Hall of Fame
- British Steeplechasing Hall of Fame
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
- New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame
- United States National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
