SOUL OF THE SPORT: The breathtaking Newmarket Gallops are world famous in racing… ANDY HOOPER captured the thunder of hooves at dawn as horses and riders stormed Warren Hill
- ANDY HOOPER traveled to explore the headquarters of British horse racing: the Newmarket Gallops
- Newmarket’s training ground covers 2,500 hectares across the city and offers spectacular views
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Welcome back to the Soul of Sport. For our latest installment of the series, ANDY HOOPER traveled to Newmarket to explore the headquarters of British horse racing: the Newmarket Gallops. The training ground covers 2,500 hectares and especially on Warren Hill you can see some of the most breathtaking views of the Suffolk city.
The site includes a range of facilities for training thoroughbred racehorses, on artificial grass and turf surfaces, unrivaled anywhere in the world. It also features 80 kilometers of galloping trails and more than 23 kilometers of artificial tracks, used daily by more than 3,000 horses under the care of more than 85 trainers.
Below, our man has captured the best moments with a Nikon Z9 camera with a 24-70mm lens, a 70-200mm lens and a 400mm lens.
As the sun rises on Warren Hill in Newmarket, the horses begin galloping around the famous racecourse
Silhouettes of horses and riders fade into the distance as dawn breaks over the Newmarket Training Grounds
A number of jockeys make their way down the long hill and into the early morning mist as a trainer watches from afar
One horse pokes its head out of one of the stable windows and poses for a photo while soaking up the sun’s rays
One horse grazes on some grass before heading to one of the many galloping trails open that day
Jockeys are fit for a day trip while the horses are fed and cared for in one of the many Newmarket stables
The Newmarket Training Grounds include a range of facilities for training thoroughbred racehorses
Time to buy new jeans? A huge tear can be seen in one rider’s trousers as they continue to work hard in the stables
A map of the training ground shows how many hectares the town of Newmarket, east of Cambridge, covers
The breathtaking views come into focus as the sun rises over Suffolk as jockeys head out for their early morning ride
Mail Sport was given behind-the-scenes access to Charlie Fellowes’ garden (pictured). The 33-year-old is seen in his office
The Newmarket Training Grounds include 50 miles of galloping tracks and more than 14 miles of artificial tracks
The early bird catches the worm! A number of jockeys are out before sunrise and exploring the terrain
The Newmarket Gallops are used daily by more than 3,000 horses under the care of more than 85 trainers
It’s time to ride – horses gallop down the long straight at Newmarket with the sun blaring in their eyes as they make their way up the hill
An old sign shows which Gallops are open that day, as some riders head out for a day in the sun
That’s not a zebra crossing, but a horse crossing! Jockeys make their way along one of Newmarket’s public roads
Three stable workers take some time to enjoy a cup of tea and lunch before getting back to work
The Henry Cecil Open Weekend takes place on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September. It’s a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the British horse racing headquarters in Newmarket. 24 yards are open to the public to look around, as well as horse venues including The National Stud, British Racing School, Newmarket Equine Hospital, Jockey Club Rooms, Peter O’Sullevan House, National Stud. Tickets cost £15 in advance, U16s go free. Charlie Fellowes chairs the Open Weekend