March 2021 March NHRM FRIENDS NEWSLETTER FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL HORSERACING MUSEUM 2020 OVERVIEW* FRIENDSNEW SAVE YEAR HYPERION 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 attraction throughout the summer and was 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 HORSE RACING MUSEUM | PAGE 2 INTRODUCING: A NEW TEAM A NEW SENIOR TEAM AT NHRM Working through the pandemic has led to a new approach 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 Jockey Club 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 Midway Lady with who he achieved success in the 1000 Guineas and Epsom 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] | PAGE 3 THE NATIONAL HORSE RACING MUSEUM FEBRUARY 2021 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. | PAGE 5 THE NATIONAL HORSE RACING MUSEUM FEBRUARY 2021 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 generous 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 Michael Stoute, 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! | PAGE 7 THE NATIONAL HORSE RACING MUSEUM FEBRUARY 2021 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 Gainsborough and his dam the building. Selene won 16 races including the Nassau Stakes 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, Frankel 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 George Lambton 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 Ascot Gold Cup. Yes, during his fi rst four seasons with runners he was champion sire three times Where did he stand at stud? despite those tiny numbers covered.