National Horseracing Museum facts for kids
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The museum courtyard
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | Newmarket, Suffolk |
| Type | Sporting museum |
| Visitors | 18,601 (2022) |
The National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) is a super cool place in Newmarket, Suffolk that teaches you all about the history of horse racing! It's located on a big 5-acre site in the middle of town. Before, it was in a different building on Newmarket High Street.
The museum is part of a bigger place called the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art. This centre also includes the British Sporting Art Trust and Retraining of Racehorses. Elizabeth II officially opened the centre in 2016.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
Back in 1981, a place called the Subscription Rooms of the Jockey Club closed down. A man named Major David Swannell thought it would be the perfect spot for a national museum about horse racing.
So, the museum first opened its doors on April 30, 1983. Elizabeth II was there to open it! At its first home, there was a statue of a famous horse named Hyperion. Hyperion won the Epsom Derby race in 1933.
Moving to a New Home
In 2016, the National Horseracing Museum moved to its current location. It joined forces with the British Sporting Art Trust and Retraining of Racehorses. Together, they formed the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art.
Elizabeth II opened this new centre on November 3, 2016. The new home is on Palace Street. It's built on the old grounds of a royal palace that belonged to King Charles II.
The Royal Palace Connection
The museum's current site was once home to King Charles II's palace and stables. Only one part of the original palace, called Palace House, is still standing today. The rest of the palace was taken down after Queen Victoria sold the property in 1857.
The King's stables were also removed to make way for new buildings. These new buildings included the Trainer's House and new stables called the King's Yard Stables. Later, in 1874, the property was passed down to Leopold de Rothschild. He built even more stables nearby in 1903, known as the Rothschild Yard.
During World War II, Palace House was used to help Jewish refugees. The Rothschild family owned the Palace House estate until 1985. Then, Leopold's grandson, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, sold it.
Restoring Palace House
After being sold, the buildings started to fall apart. In 1992, the local council stepped in. They took over the estate to save it.
Palace House was then beautifully restored. This was possible with help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and English Heritage. For a while, it was used as a public building.
In 2005, the council and the museum created a group called the Home of Horseracing Trust. Their goal was to raise money for the new museum centre. The new museum opened in 2016. In May 2024, Queen Camilla became the museum's patron, taking over from Queen Elizabeth II.
Collections and Displays
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum's amazing collections are found in the Trainer's House and King's Yard Stables. You can learn about the history and science of horse racing.
There are cool paintings and real jockey silks worn by famous riders like Lester Piggott and Frankie Dettori. You can even try out a racehorse simulator! It feels like you're riding a real racehorse.
More to Explore
Besides the regular displays, the museum also has special temporary exhibitions. For example, in 2025, there was an exhibition about horseracing board games.
You can also find a gift shop and a second-hand bookshop in the Trainer's House. In the courtyard, there's a cafe and restaurant. You'll also see a statue of the famous racehorse Frankel there. The museum often hosts fun events, concerts, workshops, and activities especially for kids!
The British Sporting Art Trust
Palace House is the only part left of King Charles II's 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.
The art collection includes works by famous artists who painted horses and sports. Some of these artists are George Stubbs, Sir Alfred Munnings, and Lucy Kemp-Welch. You can see paintings, prints, sculptures, and even everyday objects related to sports.
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 for a life after racing.
You can see displays about their important work. There are stables and paddocks for several retired racehorses. These horses stay there temporarily while they are being retrained.
Tours and Demonstrations
The museum offers tours of the grounds twice a day. On these tours, you can see the forge, where horseshoes are made. You can also see the horse-walker and the paddocks where the horses relax. Sometimes, you can even watch the horses being trained in the Peter O'Sullevan arena.
Several times a year, the Peter O'Sullevan arena hosts special shows. These might include horseball or horseback falconry, both featuring retired racehorses. You might also see Suffolk Punch horses, which are a special breed.
Awards
The National Horseracing Museum has won some cool awards!
- 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 at the East Anglian Daily Times Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards.
- In 2022, the museum was a highly commended 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
