Forthcoming events

  • Tue
    26
    Jan
    2016
    9:45 amBourton Hill Farm, Bourton on the Water,

    We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Ben Pauling and his team on Tuesday, 26th January 2016 at 09:45am. The cost of this trip is £5 and bookings should be sent to Robert Watson.

    Ben started training at the beginning of the 2013 season after spending six years as Nicky Henderson's assistant. He is now based in the heart of Gloucestershire and trains near Bourton on the Water. 

    Ben grew up surrounded by horses and always knew that racing was something he wanted to pursue.

    Following a successful six years in Lambourn, he has made a great start to his training career, consistently sending out winners throughout the first two years.

    Last year, Ben had listed and graded success which means this season is looking more exciting than ever, we have a strong string of 40 horses that is ever expanding but each horse still has their individual attention.

    Ben’s Address: Bourton Hill Farm, Bourton on the Water, GL54 2LF

  • Tue
    09
    Feb
    2016
    19:30pmOaksey House, Lambourn

    The WBRC 2016 popular Team Quiz will take place on Tuesday, 09th February 2016 at 19:30pm. The quiz is being held at Oaksey House and we hope that there will be a good number of teams from the local racing community as well as established favourites returning.

    The quiz is designed to have graduated questions and all teams will continue for all rounds. The quiz is being held at Oaksey House and we hope that there will be a good number of teams from the local racing community (AP McCoy was in a team in 2014!) as well as old established favourites returning.

    The proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

    Venue: Oaksey House, Lambourn. Start Time: 19:30pm

  • Wed
    24
    Feb
    2016
    10:15 amAramstone; Kings Caple; Herefordshire

    We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Venetia Williams and her team on Wednesday, 24th February 2016 at 10:15am.

    Afterwards, lunch will be available at the Lough Pool Pub for those who would like it. Ludlow races are on that afternoon, BUT the racecourse is 36 miles north of Venetia’s yard, and will take about an hour.  It is not a Newbury reciprocal meeting.

    Venetia Williams Address: Aramstone; Kings Caple; Herefordshire; HR1 4TU

    UPDATE 16/02/2016: We have received a high number of booking requests for for this stable visit. As a result, we are NO longer accepting booking requests for this visit.

    DIRECTIONS:  If using satnav, put in HOARWITHY, not Kings Caple, via Gloucester.  Take either the A40 from Oxford to Gloucester or the M4 to junction 15, then A419 to Cirencester, continue on A417 to Gloucester.  Either continue on A40, or join A40 at Gloucester, and proceed to Ross on Wye; continue on A40 to roundabout signposted Hereford A49. Take that road and almost immediately you will see a signpost to Hoarwithy on the right; follow this road and continue to Hoarwithy; go past the Harp Inn, and take 1st turning on the right after pub, signposted Kings Caple. Follow that road, go over narrow bridge, continue up slight hill; at brow on the left are some wrought iron gates; these will open automatically as you approach. (From the Harp Inn it is just half a mile).

  • Thu
    10
    Mar
    2016
    8:00 pmThe Long Room, Berkshire Stand, Newbury Racecourse

    Our ever popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Thursday, 10th March 2016 at 8pm. Doors open at 19:15pm.

    Venue: Long Room, Berkshire Stand, Newbury Racecourse

    On the panel this year is: Lee McKenzie, Brendan Powell jnr, David Bass, Dan Horsford (assistant trainer to Alan King) & David Williams (Ladbrokes).

    Admission: £3 for members and £7 for non members.

    A raffle and a pay bar will be available on the evening.

  • Mon
    21
    Mar
    2016
    7:45 amPhillip Hobb's Stable, Minehead & Taunton Racecourse

    The WBRC Best Turned Out Shield was won by Phillip Hobbs last year. We will collect it from him when visiting his yard, ready for the next recipient.

    Cost of coach and stable visit will be £30. Taunton Races Premier admission is £16 on the day but with a 20% discount for pre-booked groups.

    The coach will leave Newbury Racecourse at 07:45am.

    UPDATE 22/02/2016: We have received a high number of booking requests for for this trip. As a result, we are NO longer accepting booking requests for this visit. However, should there be a cancellation and you would like to join the waiting list, please contact Robert Watson.

  • Sat
    02
    Apr
    2016
    Newbury Racecourse

    The club will once again be sponsoring the National Hunt Flat Race at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday, 02nd April 2016.

    We will also be presenting the West Berkshire Racing Club Best Turned Out Horse Shield to representatives of the stable winning the most Best Turned Out prizes during the 2015/16 season.

  • Tue
    19
    Apr
    2016
    9:15 amROWDOWN STABLE, UPPER LAMBOURN

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Mark Usher and his team on, Tuesday, 19th April 2016 at 09:15am.

    Mark has been training racehorses since 1983 and now based in Rowdown Stables, Upper Lambourn which he moved into on the 1st January 2016.

    Mark has previously worked for top flat trainers Barry Hills and Henry Candy.

    Please note: Number limited to 35 members/guests. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made in the usual way. Breakfast available at a local pub afterward the stable visit.

  • Tue
    17
    May
    2016
    8:15 amSummerdown, East Ilsley

    UPDATE 07th MAY 2016 - We have received a high number of booking requests for this stable visit. As a result, we are NO longer accepting booking requests for this visit.

    We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Hughie Morrison and his team on Tuesday, 17th May 2016 at 08:15am. Breakfast is arranged at The Swan in East Isley for 10am.

    The cost of this trip is £5 and bookings should be sent to Robert Watson. There is a maximum of 35 members for this stable visit.

    Hughie Morrison has had success spanning over nearly 2 decades. His commitment and passion for his horses being the driving force behind this huge success which has been nothing short of phenomenal.

    Winners like Pastoral Pursuits (July Cup G1 at Newmarket 2005), Alcazar (Prix Royal Oak G1 at Longchamp 2005, the eldest horse in Europe to win a G1) and Sakhee’s Secret (July cup G1 at Newmarket 2007), have firmly placed Hughie on any would be owner's short list to train their horse.

    Hughie's address is: Summerdown; East Ilsley; Berkshire; RG20 7LB

  • Wed
    18
    May
    2016
    19:30pmPaddock View Room, Newbury Racecourse

    The West Berkshire Racing Club's AGM will take place on Wednesday, 18th May 2016. The AGM will start at 19:30pm

    Venue: Paddock View Room, Newbury Racecourse

    Following the AGM, there will be a social evening where our guests will be our president Peter Walwyn, MBE & Joe Mercer.

    Both Joe and Peter will be discussing the Grundy v.s. Bustino epic in the King George at Ascot in 1975. Peter trained 'Grindy' and Joe rode 'Bustino'.

    Entrance to the AGM is FREE, however, if you wish to stay for our social event afterwards, the entrance fee is £2 per member and £5 for non-members.

  • Thu
    30
    Jun
    2016
    11:00 amOx Drove, Burghclere, Newbury
    We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Heatherwold Stud on Thursday, 30th June 2016 at 11am.
    Situated in rural Berkshire, Heatherwold Stud provides the ideal location for a top class Thoroughbred nursery. Heatherwold Stud was acquired by the present owners in 2003 and straightaway an ambitious renovation program was carefully planned. In 2004, the stud underwent a complete facelift which included two brand new, spacious, American barns, encompassing a state of the art foaling unit, a purpose built office complex and sales preparation facilities, including a 5 bay horse walker and a covered lunge ring.  Additionally, the stud quickly built up a new highly experienced team to manage and operate the facilities.

    Heatherwold Stud specialize in foaling down and sales preparation, with resting horses and new boarders welcome all year round.

    The cost of this trip is £5 and bookings should be sent to Rob Watson.

  • Mon
    04
    Jul
    2016
    9:00 amManton House Estate, Marlborough

    We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Brian Meehan and his team on Monday, 04th July 2016 at 9am.

    The cost of this trip is £5 and bookings should be sent to David Lees. David's details will be available in the next newsletter.

    You are able to access Manton House Estate via the A4.

    UPDATE 20/06/2016: We have received a high number of booking requests for this stable visit. As a result, we are NO longer accepting booking requests for this visit. Any booking requests received after Monday, 20th June 2016 will NOT be accepted and your booking request & payment will be returned.

  • Mon
    19
    Sep
    2016
    9:30 am Whitcoombe House Stables, Upper Lambourn

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Jonathan Portman and his team on Monday, 19th September 2016 at 09:30am. Application will be available in the next newsletter. Breakfast will be arranged at 'The Malt Shovel' after the stable visit.

    Venue: Whitcoombe House Stables, Maddle Road, Upper Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 8RA.

    Jonathan Portman is a hands on horseman with worldwide experience and has been training flat and jumping racehorses since 1998.

    Formerly  as an amateur rider he rode winners of flat in France and jump races in England. He was also closely involved in the training of point to pointers and Arabians, riding them with great success.

    Prior to training, Jonathan was assistant to Breeders Cup winning trainer Jonathan Pease in Chantilly, France and to Derby winning trainer Luca Cumani in Newmarket. He also worked in Australia and the USA.

  • Wed
    21
    Sep
    2016
    9:30 amKingwood House Stables, Lambourn, (RG17 7RS)

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Owen Burrows and his team on Wednesday, 21st September 2016 at 09:30am

    Venue: Kingwood House Stables, Lambourn, (Postcode: RG17 7RS)

    Breakfast at The Hare after this stable visit.

    **Please note that there is a limited availability for this trip** Please wait until September's newsletter is published before booking this stable visit.

  • Thu
    27
    Oct
    2016
    10:30 amHill Farm, Park Lane; Great Alne; Alcester; Warwickshire; B49 6HS
    West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Robin Dickin and his team on Thursday, 27th October at 10:30am.

    Venue: Hill Farm, Park Lane; Great Alne; Alcester; Warwickshire; B49 6HS

    There is racing at Stratford on Thursday, 27th October - first race at 14:20pm. This is a Newbury reciprocal meeting.

    Robin started his career in racing immediately upon leaving school at the tender age of 14! He joined firstly Frenchie & then David Nicholson, spending eleven years with the latter whilst riding on the flat and then over jumps, riding a total of 115 winners.

    As well as riding Robin also ran a livery yard breaking and preparing horses for trainers such as Mercy Rimmel, Capt. Tim Forster, & Gavin Pritchard- Gordon to name but a few!

    A fall at Towcester in 1986 left Robin with a double skull fracture, and put paid to his career in the saddle. However plans were well under way to start a training career by this time and Robin was granted a license in the spring of that year. Based at Newent in Gloucestershire in partnership with Derek & Cheryl Holder, the winners soon began to flow, with Mountain Man owned by Yvonne & Roger Allsop starting the ball rolling at Newton Abbott later that summer.

    After seven happy years (and over 100 winners) in Newent, Robin, Claire & the team moved to  Alscot Park near Stratford-upon-Avon. In 2012 the yard relocated to Alne Park, which boasts some of the best training facilities in the Midlands.

    A truly versatile trainer Robin is just as happy with sprinters such as the prolific Ballasecret, dual purpose horses such as the talented Kadastrof and just about anything in between!

    Robin’s philosophy on training is that happy horses win races! With a strong team behind him, and a happy atmosphere in the yard, the horses are all turned out everyday, which keeps them mentally relaxed and helps with their physical well being.

  • Mon
    07
    Nov
    2016
    8:00 pmPaddock View Room, Newbury Racecourse

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be holding their annual NH preview evening on Monday, 07th November 2016 at 8pm.

    Venue: Paddock View Room, Newbury Racecourse

    Entrance Fee: West Berks Racing Club members: £2. Non West Berks Racing Club members: £5

    Panel: Emma Lavelle, Jamie Snowden, David Bass, Tom Bellamy & chaired by Colin Brown..

  • Thu
    10
    Nov
    2016
    9:00 amShefford Valley Stables; Great Shefford; Hungerford; RG17 7EF

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Roger Teal and his team on Thursday, 10th November 2016.

    Roger Teal has trained group and International winner STEELE TANGO, group placed COCHABAMBA and SURREY STAR.

    Flat and jump racehorse trainer Roger Teal is based in Great Shefford and has been training racehorses since 2007.

    Application forms are available in October's newsletter.

  • Sat
    03
    Dec
    2016
    19:30PMOaksey House, Lambourn

    Previous social evenings have proved very successful so we are repeating the format this year. The evening will include dinner, a racing related quiz as well as the opportunity to meet other members of the Club in the informal but delightful setting of Oaksey House. Pay bar available

    Tickets are £20 per head to include a drink on arrival, sit down dinner and fun quiz. Raffle in aid of Injured Jockeys Fund. We are delighted to announce our Guest Speaker will be ALASTAIR DOWN, renowned racing journalist, commentator and author. Since we started this annual dinner at Oaksey House some years ago, it has proved a very enjoyable and popular evening. Tickets will not be issued, to save paper and postage, but acknowledgement of cheques will be sent to those with emails

    Please apply using the booking form in the October's or November's Newsletter

    Venue: Oaksey House, Lambourn

    Date/Time: Saturday, 03rd December 2016.

    Cost: £20 per person

  • Wed
    07
    Dec
    2016
    10:30 amConkwell Grange Stables, Limpley Stole

    The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Neil Mulholland and his team on Wesnesday, 07th December 2016 at 10:30am.

    Neil Mulholland's address: Conkwell Grange Stables; Limpley Stoke; Bath; BA2 7FD

    If you wish to attend this stable visit, please contact Rob Watson.