March 2021 March

NHRM FRIENDS NEWSLETTER FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL HORSERACING MUSEUM

2020 OVERVIEW* FRIENDSNEW SAVE YEAR UPDATE LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

2020 will live long in the memory due to the area. The Bakery has also built a reputation for Covid pandemic and it will also be remembered good food and produce and continues to expand as the summer of staycations. Not all museums its offerings to attract new business. The new opened but we welcomed our visitors back on bookshop has been a popular addition and has 31st July with the new exhibition Good Com- met our expectations of providing a service to panions: The many roles of our Canine friends. the Newmarket community as well as helping to Despite the uncertain times we were delighted support the Museum. to welcome over 100 supporters on the opening day. This exhibition went on to be a popular We are proud to have been able to deliver a throughout the summer and great day for our members during a very diffi cult reviewed by Country Life. time and are delighted to have had 4 star ratings on Trip Advisor for 100% of our reviews. We held some very popular events with the Farrier’s Day and Halloween Nights attracting Despite lockdown the Museum footfall was almost sell out numbers. The Farriers Day better than expected but like most museums it showcased the importance and skills of the role has been a challenging 12 months and having in the racing industry and was a top attraction in to close our doors not only made a fi nancial 2020, and our Halloween nights brought chills impact, but also made it diffi cult to plan for the and thrills to adults and children alike. Our future. With the recent announcements of the Christmas events – The 12 Days of Christmas, new Roadmap for lifting the Covid lockdown we The Palace by Candlelight and the Carol Con- have a renewed optimism and can now start to cert proved very popular with local families and plan for the future with degree of certainty. We we were delighted that so many came along. are preparing to open the Shop and Tack Room in accordance with Government guidelines During the brief lockdown hiatus last year both during April and to welcome back our loyal the Bakery and Tack Room reopened under supporters to a number of events and new exhi- new management. The Tack Room, with its bitions planned for the second half of the year. wonderful outside eating area, became one of We are grateful for the continued support of The the most popular places to eat al fresco in the Friends of NHRM.

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM | PAGE 2 INTRODUCING: A NEW TEAM

A NEW SENIOR TEAM AT NHRM

Working through the pandemic has led to a and a new look for the museum, with the aim of being more family focused. With more events planned we will aim to attract new audi- ences and to refl ect the diverse communities we serve. We are delighted to introduce...

Anne-Marie Hogan Museum Director

Dr Alexandra (Sally) Fletcher Packard Curator

Matthew Grant Head of Marketing

At NHRM we have a range of volunteering op- portunities from working with our ex-racehorses in the Rothschild Yard to helping as a volunteer host, please do get in touch if you wish to help us, apply to [email protected] Pictured l-r: Sue Molloy (RoR) Anne-Marie Hogan Dr Alexandra (Sally) Fletcher

On behalf of everyone at the Museum and the Friends of NHRM we would like to say thank you to Katherine Stewart for her tireless work as Chair of the Friends’ Trustees.

Katherine is stepping down after many years supporting the Museum and The Friends with immediate effect and handing over the Chairman’s reins to ex-racehorse trainer, Ben Hanbury. We are delighted that Ben has agreed to take on the role, with his fi rst-hand knowledge of the racing industry and as Keeper of the Rooms’ art collection, Ben is ideally placed to take over from Katherine.

Having started out as an amateur jockey, Ben rode nearly 80 winners before deciding to apply for his Trainer’s Licence in 1973. He trained over 900 winners before retiring in 2004. Perhaps his greatest triumph was with with who he achieved success in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks in 1986. Ben’s experience and connections to the racing world, along with his curatorial experience, will be a great asset to the Friends and we look forward to welcoming him to the Friends Board of Trustees Ben Hanbury and to working with him. New Chairman of Friends

Friends of NHRM Palace Street, Newmarket CB8 8EP. Charity Number: 291154. Tel. 01638 667314 Email: [email protected]

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Use Coupon Code: FRIENDS2021

www.nhrm.co.uk | PAGE 4 National Horse Racing Museum is following Visit Britain’s advice and has achieved the Good To Go, Covid 19 Kite Mark. The accreditation shows we can demonstrate that we are adhering to the respective Government and Public Health guidance, have carried out a Covid-19 risk assessment and have the required processes in place to keep our sta , volunteers and visitors safe.

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THE CORAL PRITCHARD-GORDON GRADUATE SCHEME

The Museum has been fortunate to have the world we live in and museums are a core had a number of supporters since source of tangible information and develop a it opened in 1985 not least the wonderful deeper connection with history and how it has Coral Pritchard-Gordon. shaped the way the world is today.

The long-time partner of Newmarket Royal I will be collaborating with and shadowing trainer Sir , and co-founder various managers across the museum team, to of the town branch of the Multiple Sclerosis develop an in-depth and all-rounded under- Society, Coral sadly died in 2020 after a long standing of how to run a museum successfully. battle with illness. NHRM was blessed to have This has involved various tasks, such as been a benefi ciary of her infectious energy locating and documenting records of artifacts, and enthusiasm and in acknowledgment of her writing up costing reports for projects, and dedication, the trustees introduced a Graduate handling and transporting items to conserva- Scheme in her name as a tribute to her won- tion standards. derful and tireless work for the museum and wider community. I would like to specialise in taxidermy and creatively displaying science in Mariam Hussain - NHRM 2021 Graduate an engaging and artistic way to allow audiences to I was delighted to be the inaugural recipient of learn history and science the Coral Pritchard-Gordon Graduate Scheme through an immersive and award at NHRM, managed directly by our cura- emotive experience. tor, Dr Alexandra Fletcher. Growing up my pas- sions and interests have always been oriented Mariam Hussain, NHRM around gaining knowledge and understanding Graduate Scheme

Coral Pritchard-Gordon, who sadly died last year, pictured with long-time partner of Newmarket Royal trainer, Sir Michael Stoute

www.nhrm.co.uk | PAGE 6 2020 - A YEAR IN REVIEW at NHRM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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HYPERION THE STALLION

IMPORTANT FRIENDS ARCHAEOLOGY ACQUISITION

Many of you will be aware that The Hyperion, the stallion Animal Welfare Trust recently went into liquidation. In 1979 the Trust Hyperion was one of the most popular Der- made a long-term loan to NHRM of by winners of the 20th Century. Owned by the 17th Earl Derby and ridden by Tommy the skeleton of the racehorse Weston the 15.1 hands high chestnut easily Hyperion. won the race in 1933. Three months later Hyperion won the St Leger by three lengths This has formed an important part of our dis- and ended his career with 9 wins in 13 plays ever since. As an asset of the Animal races. Welfare Trust the skeleton was in danger of leaving the museum. The Friends over the The little horse, the smallest Derby winner years had built up a collection fund, which since 1840 went on to become one of the has allowed us to secure the skeleton. With- most successful sires of the last 100 years. out the support of the Friends an important Hyperion’s sire was the war time Triple part of our racing heritage could have left Crown winner and his dam the building. Selene won 16 races including the in 1922.

www.nhrm.co.uk | PAGE 8 “The Friends of NHRM have been responsible for the purchase of over 50 items for the Museum. These objects are key to the NHRM displays”

To fi nd out more about his success as a stallion we talked to Peter Stanley, the owner of New England stud and nephew of the 18th Earl Derby. when these were 3) and 28 in his third!! For information, covered just over What was he like as a character? 130 mares in his fi rst season at Banstead Manor stud. I know he was very fond of his trainer and was supposed to have noticed him at Ascot when he was in a Did he make an immediate impact as a wheel chair when he ran in the 1934 Ascot stallion? Gold Cup. Hyperion fi nished 3rd in the 1934 . Yes, during his fi rst four seasons with runners he was sire three times Where did he stand at stud? despite those tiny numbers covered.

Stanley House and Plantation stud in What sort of impact did he have as a Newmarket, and Thornton stud in Yorkshire. stallion at the time? This was to avoid all the stallions being killed by German bombs by having them A great sire of sires who started a dynasty. together on a single stud. In he became the grandsire of All studs belonged to the 17th Earl at the who at one stage had 80% time and were later sold to Lord Howard de of Australian stallions descending from him Walden. until the arrival of Danehill. Interestingly despite siring a number of very successful How many mares did he cover each stallion sons he has almost completely died season? out in the male line, despite this, his name remains in the pedigree of the vast majority Fascinatingly 13 foals in his 1st crop, 16 in of racehorses around the world. second crop (and became champion sire

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HYPERION Q&A

Did Lord Derby ever consider selling him?

Lord Derby was offered a blank cheque by the American Louis B Mayer. His response was “even though England be reduced to ashes, Hyperion shall never leave these shores.” This was a pointed reference to the Aga Khan selling Derby winners , Braham and .

How would you summarise his effect on the breed and where would you rank him Hyperion sired 7 winners of 11 Classics: in the list of all time European stallions like today? : 1940 1000 Guineas & Oaks Owen Tudo: 1941 Derby Certainly, his equal but these things are sub- Suncastle: 1941 St Leger jective but he dominated the leading sires : 1942 1000 Guineas, Oaks & St Leger list his entire Life despite having very small Hycilla: 1944 Oaks books of mares each year. Sunstream: 1945 1000 Guineas & Oaks : 1946 1000 Guineas He was a very small horse at only just over 15 hands. Do you think his size Among other famous horses Hyperion sired helped him master the stiff gradients of were The Queen’s colt , 2nd in the Epsom on Derby Day? 1953 Derby and winner of the 1954 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Certainly, you don’t want to be a big ungainly , winner of the 1944 horse at Epsom. and .

Hyperion died in 1960 and as parting thought Peter Stanley refl ected on the famous story of the last Napoleonic cognac in the cellar, which was supposedly opened when was staying at and drunk by my uncle and Winston to commemorate the loss of Hyperion. A truly remarkable little horse.

Hyperion was the leading sire six times, then 2nd or 3rd for a further 5 years and the lead- ing broodmare sire on four occasions.

FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL HORSE RACING MUSEUM | PAGE 10 THE JOHN SKEAPING - COMMISSIONING

Hyperion was euthanized in December to capture a true representation and 1960. Almost immediately after his death, the statue took over a year to finish. Lord Derby commissioned a life-sized bronze statue of Hyperion. On its completion in 1962 the bronze went on exhibition at the Royal Academy. It The task was a given to the sculptor John must of looked astonishing in the gallery Skeaping and he began work almost imme- surrounded by modern paintings of the day. diately. Skeaping was dissatisfied with the Lord Derby was delighted and the bronze photographs taken of Hyperion. After using was erected on the Snailwell Road on Lord a horse similar to Hyperion as a model he Derby’s estate. applied to borrow Hyperion’s skeleton from the Equine Research Station. The skele- This bronze statue of hyperion, by John ton at the time was being kept in a tank of Skeaping was bequeathed to the Jockey chemicals to it for posterity. Club by Lord Derby and in 1996 was moved to sit majestically outside the Jockey Club Skeaping carefully measured each bone. Rooms, from its original position at He interviewed and took memories of all Woodlands Stud, his former home. If you those who knew the horse to capture his have not seen the bronze or indeed the stance and . He talked to his skeleton at NHRM, please do plan a visit to stud groom Alfred Chinery and with Tommy see us this year and discover more about Weston the jockey who rode him. He was this wonderful little horse.

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NHRM FRIENDS GIFT MEMBERSHIP 2021 Friends: “True friendship multiplies the good in life. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a The Benefits of Friends desert island... to find one real As Friends of NHRM you play a vital part for the Museum friend in a lifetime is good and, as supporters and ambassadors, also help to purchase fortune; to keep them, objects for the collection and fund specific projects. a blessing” With your continued support at our events the Museum raises funds and encourages a shared interest in horseracing and its history. You can give the gift of Friends FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP Membership to help us to continue our work. • Free entry to the site Join now and recieve: • Visitors accompanying annual Information and updates on Horseracing and its history through Friends will be offered a regular emails and biannual newsletters. You also get invitations concessionary rate entrance to select previews, visits and seasonal events. Plus free entry to NHRM with discounts in the restaurant and shop. • Life membership includes a free guest admission Your gift welcome pack will include: • A welcome letter to say who the gift is from • Exclusive invitations to private viewings, lectures and tours • Friends Membership Card • Information on NHRM • 10% discount in the Tack • The latest Friends of NHRM newsletter Room restaurant

To set up your gift membership email [email protected] or see • 10% discount in the NHRM shop (restrictions apply) details and download an application form at www.nhrm.co.uk