Breeding & Racing Magazine

Newmarket Meeting Over "1,200 Houses" Plan

Also in the UK overnight, there was "standing room only at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket as nearly 200 people gathered for a public meeting to discuss the controversial proposals to build 1,200 houses on Lord Derby's Hatchfield Farm," reported racingpost.com. The meeting (following approval for the plan by Forest Heath District Council & its subsequent submission to the Secretary of State) was called by the Save Historic Newmarket Action group "to try & mobilise opposition to the plans" & the "depth of support suggested those in attendance were vehemently against the proposals". John Berry (representing the Newmarket trainers) told the meeting: "This is not for our benefit but for the future & if Newmarket becomes another big town, then I don't know how it could stay as the major training centre. If you take away the rural background, then it doesn't take huge imagination that owners would have their horse trained in Lambourn, Malton, Middleham, Beckhampton or wherever."