Lambourn Training Grounds are proving a big attraction
- Number of horses regularly using the Jockey Club Estates training grounds has more than doubled to over 800
- Record number of over 200 casual users in October
Since Jockey Club Estates took responsibility for the managing of the Lambourn Training Grounds the number of horses regularly using the gallops has more than doubled.
In 2006 the monthly average total of horses was 367, after ten months of 2018 the monthly average is 808, with a peak return of 862 horses recorded in September.
The Jockey Club purchased the area known as the Mandown Gallops in 2006 and instigated a sustained period investment in the facilities. The number of horses based in the village and regularly using the Lambourn Training Grounds has been growing steadily ever since.
The first six years saw a 40% increase, however, there has been further significant growth in the popularity of Lambourn since then, with the figure rising a further 55% from 2012 to over 800.
In recent years the arrival of young trainers such as Richard Hughes, Ed Walker and Archie Watson on the Flat, and Jamie Snowden and Harry Whittington over jumps have contributed to Lambourn’s resurgence. The 2015 Grand National success of Many Clouds, trained by Oliver Sherwood, provided another boost to the village.
Another indication of the popularity of the first-class facilities available in Lambourn was a record number of ‘casual users’ in October 2018. During the month 239 horses used the training grounds as daily visitors. The unseasonably dry autumn no doubt contributed to this figure, as trainers came to Lambourn to make use of the artificial surfaces available for fast work and schooling.
Jockey Club Estates has owned and managed over 500 acres of the Lambourn Training Grounds since 2006. Following significant investment and the addition of further gallops rented from adjoining landowners, Lambourn has re-established itself as a centre of excellence for training Thoroughbreds, with first class facilities for Flat and National Hunt horses.
The facilities include eight miles of turf gallops and a wide range of recently renovated artificial surfaces of varying distance and gradient.
As well as the gallops, the investment by Jockey Club Estates has extended to a new parking area for visiting trainers and plans to enable the building of more yards and stabling in Lambourn.
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The Jockey Club updates today that having reviewed feedback from the “Playing our part in Newmarket’s future” consultation earlier this year, the concepts consulted on for the area known as “Racecourse Side” have been submitted for consideration as part of the ongoing West Suffolk Local Plan process.
After substantial consultation and discussion between interested parties, from 1st October 2022, a new turf Hack Canter on Walton Downs will be provided and maintained for leisure horse riders on Epsom and Walton Downs. This will replace the sand Hack Ride, which will permanently close from this date and be left to return to its natural state.