Newmarket History

Newmarket is the horse breeding, training and racing capital of England, if not the world. From 1605 King James I hunted regularly in the area and realised the surrounding flat country was ideal for racing. The first recorded race took place in 1622 when a horse belonging to Lord Salisbury beat one of the Marquis of Buckingham's for a stake of 100.

Charles II had an even greater love of racing than his grandfather and would bring his entire court to Newmarket twice a year in spring and autumn to enjoy 'the sport of kings'. In 1683 a fire all but destroyed the town and the only building that survived, located in Palace Street, is said to have once belonged to Charles IIs mistress, Nell Gwyn

By 1752 racing was so popular that a controlling body, 'the Jockey Club', was formed. They originally met in a local coffee shop and in 1772 an impressive Georgian building in the High Street became their HQ. These days the National Jockey Clubs head quarters are in London but they still own the building in Newmarket, which is next door to the National Horse Racing Museum.