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sallyky Mar 6th, 2008 07:14 AM

Newmarket gallops
 
We're planning a day trip by train from London to Cambridge, with a side trip to Newmarket. I would love to see the gallops, but I can't seem to find how early they take place or whether public transportation can get us there early enough.Help!

Sally

hetismij Mar 6th, 2008 07:20 AM

Racehorses train early - 6 -6.30 am is normal in the summer, slightly later in the winter. It is usually all over by about 10.
I used to live near Lambourn and that was the times they went out, I imagine it is the same in Newmarket.

nytraveler Mar 6th, 2008 10:30 AM

You would probably have to go the night before to get there early enough to see anything.

(I know that at racetracks in the US that have Breakfast at X programs to see the horses train the program is at 7 am).

Morgana Mar 7th, 2008 06:58 AM

Hi
Although there are gallops on the edge of Newmarket (just about walkable from the town but a fair hike) there is also a training ground right next to the top of the High Street, where you can see the horses. In fact I used to go to Newmarket frequently (I used to live close by) and the number of times I would have to wait at traffic lights for strings of racehourses to cross the road in front of me (they have special lights for the horses to cross!).
I assume you know you can tour the National Stud in the town?

sallyky Mar 7th, 2008 01:13 PM

Thanks everybody. Morgana, I did not know I could tour the National Stud, so thanks for telling me. How could I have missed that? Your description of Newmarket makes me all the more eager to go. I'll feel like I'm in a Dick Francis novel. The gallops are not as early as I feared, which makes sense -- they have to be able to see. Duh!I have gone to training sessions at Keeneland in Kentucky and I think they were about 6 or 7.


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