H

orses have been raced at Newmarket since the 11th century, making it the spiritual home of the sport.

Not only is it home to the Rowley Mile and July Course racing venues, it is also the global centre for thoroughbred horses in general, home to the Jockey Club, the Tattersalls bloodstock auctioning house, and the National Horse Racing Museum.

And then there’s the National Stud , the world centre for thoroughbred breeding, which was opened in 1916 but given the royal seal of approval in 1967 by horse race aficionado Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors to the centre can see some of the stallions that have produced the world’s best racing horses, see the Foaling Unit (where the horses are reared), and enter the Nursery Yards.

Younger kids will love the miniature Shetland ponies, while equine art fans will love the displays of past champions. This year’s artist in residence Chris Winch has displays around the 500-acre venue.

It has been estimated that 1-in-4 people who work in Newmarket are affiliated with the horse racing industry, and the National Stud is by far the biggest employer.

Bridging the gap between racing history, and the future direction of the sport, it’s an essential visit for racing fans, and a true, Great British world leader.