sallyky

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

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

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

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

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.