Our annual visit to the Cheltenham Festival Trials meeting coupled with a stable visit to Martin Keighley, at Luckley, near Moreton in Marsh

Coach will depart from Newbury Racecourse. Departure time: 8am

Price: £23 per member. This will include coach, drivers tips and gift to stable staff. Entrance to Cheltenham racecourse is not covered in the above price.

More information can be found in December's newsletter. Bookings can be made in the usual way.

Update: Seats are still available for this trip. If you would like to book yourself on this trip, please use the booking form within December's newsletter.

The 2015 renewal of our popular team quiz will take place on Tuesday, 10th February.

We hope to field several West Berkshire teams so if anyone wishes to take part please get in touch with Stewart Nash. 

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 last year!) as well as old established favourites returning.

The proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Injured Jockeys Fund.  Admission is free and cash bar will be in operation.

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

If you would like to enter a team, please email enquiries@westberksracingclub.org.uk

Team details: Max number of 4 people. Entrance fee: £10 (per team). This will be donated to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

We our pleased to announce that we will be visiting Alan King and his team at Barbury Castle on Tuesday, 17th February 2015 with a start time of 8:45am.

We will be organising a trip to a local pub for food after the trip.

If you would like to book your place on this trip, please contact Rob in the usual way.

The Club will once again be sponsoring the National Hunt Flat Race at the Newbury Meeting on Saturday, 28th February 2015. The race will start at 5pm.

*PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE FOR THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENING - VENUE: Hilton Central Hotel, Pinchington Lane, Newbury, RG14 7HL*

The Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Thursday, 05th March 2015. The doors will open at 7pm with the event starting at 8pm.

On the panel will be: Lee McKenzie (chairperson), Warren Greatrex, David Bass, Brendan Powell JNR and Kate Miller from William Hill

Venue: Hilton Central Hotel, Pinchington Lane, Newbury, RG14 7HL

Members, guests of members and non-members are all welcome. There is a charge of £3 per member and £7 per non-member to be paid on the door. No prior booking needed.

A pay bar will be in operation and a raffle in support of the Injured Jockey Fund.

Special Offer from William Hill. FREE entry to Imperial Cup day at Sandown on Saturday for everyone attending WBRC Cheltenham Preview at Newbury Racecourse this Thursday, at 8pm

 The WBRC will again be amongst the sponsors for this meeting and a special discount car parking offer will appear in the next newsletter along with details of how to get there.  As well as an exciting programme of seven races this meeting has in the last two years featured several horses that have gone onto win at the Hunter Chase evening at Cheltenham.  With four races supported by National Series Sponsors in Bonhams, Subaru, Aga and Connolly’s Red Mills prospects are good for another great day.  And remember Kingston Blount is also home of the point to point featured on Downton Abbey.

Oliver Sherwood needs little introduction especially after his win in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury with MANY CLOUDS, the stable star and by the time of our visit who knows he may also be the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Date/Time: 31st March at 8:45am

If you would like to book your place on this trip, please use the booking form in March's newsletter.

VISIT TO SEAMUS MULLINS, WILSFORD STABLES at WILSFORD CUM LAKE near AMESBURY on Wednesday 22 April – start time 10:00 am.

Seamus Mullins has been a regular visitor to the Club’s social evenings and he has very kindly agreed to the Club paying a return visit. Seamus trains a string of around 45 National Hunt horses and there should be plenty of well known names on show.

The visit will be followed by lunch at The Wheatsheaf in Lower Woodford.  If you wish to join our party for lunch please indicate this on the booking form below.  Payment to be made in person on the day.

Venue: Seamus Mullins yard, Wilsford (near Amesbury)

You can book your place on this trip by using the booking form in the latest newsletter.

The Club’s AGM will take place at Newbury racecourse at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 20 May. As previously mentioned both Terry Knight (Chairman) and Stewart Nash (Vice-Chairman and Newsletter Editor) have decided to stand down.  This is therefore an important meeting with changes in the Club’s management taking place so do please make every effort to attend.

Following the AGM, Stewart Nash will chair his last Club event and will be having an open discussion with a family steeped in horse racing.  Trainer Lawney Hill her husband champion point to point trainer Alan Hill and their amateur rider son Joe.  Those with a long memory will remember Alan and Lawney previously visiting the Club for one of our Grand National Previews as they both rode over the National Fences a feat now achieved by Joe this year.

Admission to the AGM is free but a charge of £2 members and £5 non-members applies for the social evening to defray costs.  A pay bar will be available.

Start Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Paddock View / Long Room, Newbury Racecourse

Parking is available in car park 2. (Entrance is on the right before the Grandstand).

We will be visiting John Bridger stable at Liphook, Hants followed by our annual visit to Goodwood racecourse on Thursday, 21st May 2015. This is a Newbury reciprocal meeting.

Coach will depart Newbury Racecourse at 8am.

Cost: £26. This will include coach, driver tip and stable visit. This does not include entrance fee to Goodwood

More details will follow shortly.

We our pleased to announce that we will be visiting Eve Johnson Houghton and her team at Blewbury on Wednesday, 10th June 2015 with a start time of 9:30am.

If you would like to book your place on this trip, please contact Rob in the usual way

We now have a quorum in terms of the numbers of members who are willing to invest in a car park badge for 16 June, so this event will definitely be going ahead. If you don’t want to commit to bringing your car or to buying a car park badge in advance then they say that car park badges will be available right up to the day. It’s going to be Car Park 8, which is in the centre of the course.

In terms of admission, it’s up to you to buy your own tickets for admission. Racing UK is offering Tattersalls admission for £49 (reduced from £67) to its subscribers. Ring 0844 3463000 and quote ‘Racing UK’. If you hear of any other offers then please let Terry Knight know.

The plan is to get there early and set up enough space for a picnic to which all members and their friends are invited. The club isn’t providing the food and drink so you need to come prepared, but it should be a nice way to prepare for the first day of Royal Ascot in good company. We’ll try to get someone to come along and give us a few tips or failing that maybe there will be one or two members with some suggestions. It is not limited to club members, more a gathering of friends, but maybe one or two will decide to join the club once they’ve met a few of us.

If you are interested in coming along then please contact Terry Knight. Terry's contact details can be found in May's newsletter. We hope to see you there.

A visit has been arranged to Jeff Hobby’s Brightwalton Stud which is set in 120 acres of chalk downland. The stud specialises in both permanent and temporary boarding of broodmares, weanlings and yearlings, sales preparation and consigning, breaking, pre-training, rest and rehabilitation. This visit should therefore provide something for everyone.

The cost of the visit is £5 and bookings should be sent to Robert Watson using the booking form in May's newsletter.

Following a number of successful recent events, Club is having its usual summer holiday break.  There is however and informal Club picnic before racing at Salisbury on Thursday, 13th August 2015.

First race 2.25 pm meet in in the public car park opposite the main grandstand for an informal picnic from 12.30pm onwards. Bring your own food and drink.

The above race days is a reciprocal day for Newbury Members.

Clive cox has built a very successful yard at Beechdown and we are very grateful to Clive for allowing us to visit.  The start time is designed to allow us to watch third lot on the gallops as well as a tour of the yard and other facilities. The visit will be followed by brunch at the Sheep Drove Eco Centre and Farm just up the road from the stables.

The cost of the visit is £5 per person and bookings should be sent to Robert Watson using the form at the end of this newsletter.  Payment for lunch will be made in person on the day.

Date/Time: Tuesday, 08th September 2015 at 9am

Ever since Sir Joseph Hawley installed John Porter as his private trainer in the newly built Park House Stables at Kingsclere in 1867 it has played an important part in racing in West Berkshire.  Porter himself was responsible for advising on the layout of Newbury Racecourse which opened in 1905 and successive trainers at Park House, William Waugh, Fred Butters, Evan Williams, Peter Hastings Bass, Ian Balding and now Andrew Balding have ensured the yard remains one which is held in the highest regard. We are therefore delighted that Andrew has agreed to a visit and we look forward to an excellent visit.  Brunch will be arranged in a local public house after the visit.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Andrew Balding and his team at Kingsclere on Friday, 2nd October 2015 at 10:15am

Breakfast afterwards will be arranged.

**The club have received a high number of applications for this stable visit. As a result, NO more booking are being accepted for this stable visit. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.**

This meeting is a reciprocal day for Newbury Members and therefore this is an ideal time to pay a return visit to Plumpton.  The meeting is also a fund raising day for the Moorcroft Racehorse Rehabilitation Centre and deserves our support.  On the way to the meeting we will be visiting Suzy Smith stables situated at the former Lewes Racecourse about 5 miles from Plumpton.  Suzy trains around 20 horses and has great success with her runners especially at the Sussex jumping meetings.

The cost of the visit is £28 per person to include coach travel, driver’s gratuity, trainers and stable staff donation.  Bookings should be sent to Robert Watson using the form in August newsletter.

Those who are not members can gain admission to the racecourse on the day or purchase tickets in advance via the Plumpton Racecourse website.  Due to the Moorcroft event places in the racecourse restaurant are likely to be sold out before the day but there are a variety of food outlets available.

Date: Monday, 19th October.

Coach will depart from Newbury Racecourse at 8.30am.

The booking form is available August's newsletter.

Update 01/10/2015 - Places are still available for this trip. If you would like to secure your place on the trip, please contact Rob ASAP.

Click here to book online via Tickets Oxford.

Online bookings close October 22.

Please note that this is not a WBRC event.

Admission to the event is £2 for Members and £5 for non-members. Raffle in support of the Injured Jockeys Fund. Pay bar available. No booking required.

On the Panel is the 2015 Grand National winning trainer, Oliver Sherwood. 2015 Gold Cup winning jockey Nico de Boinville & 2015 World Hurdle winning jockey Gavin Sheehan.

Date/Time: Tuesday, 10th November 2015 at 8pm

Venue: Champagne Bar, Newbury Racecourse

The club will be visiting Charlie Longsdon & his team on Tuesday, 17th November 2015 with a start time of 9:30am. We last visited Charlie and his team back in 2011.

A lunch will be organised at the Red Lion, Long Compton after the visit.

To secure your place on this visit, please contact Rob in the usual way or complete the booking form in October's newsletter.

Directions: Depart the A44 onto the A4300. Continue straight over the first roundabout and the exit for the stable's are approx. 1/2 mile on your right hand side. On the A4300, there is a small sign directing you to the stables. Postcode: OX7 5QF (Postcode has been taken from Charlie's website).

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.  Raffle in support of the INJURED JOCKEYS FUND. Pay bar available

Our Guest Speaker will be John Reid, MBE, retired flat race jockey, now President of the Jockeys Association.

Tickets are £20 per head to include a drink on arrival.

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

Please note that this event will now take place on Saturday, 12th December 2015

Venue: Oaksey House, Lambourn

Date/Time: Saturday, 12th December 2015 at 19:30pm

Final stable visit of 2015 to Noel Williams at BLEWBURY on Tuesday 15th December, at 10.15 a.m. (next door to Eve Johnson Houghton) followed by brunch at the Blueberry Inn.

The cost of the visit is £5 and bookings should be sent to Robert Watson using the booking form in November's newsletter.

Start time: 10:15am

Directions: From Newbury take the first exit from main roundabout leading to the M4/A34 and then take theA34 northwards towards Oxford. After approximately 12 miles take the exit signed B4185/A417 towards Wantage. After two miles take the B4185/A417 towards Wantage and Harwell. At Rowstock take the third exit from the roundabout onto the A417 towards Reading and continue past Harwell and Upton until you arrive at Blewbury. Turn right into Woodway Road to reach the stables. [OX11 9EZ].

We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Ben Pauling and his team on Tuesday, 26^th 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

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 17^th 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

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.

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.

We are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Brian Meehan and his team on Monday, 04^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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

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.

This year’s WBRC popular Team Quiz will take place on Tuesday, 24th January at 19:30pm.

Teams are restricted to 12 tables of four made up of contestants from the local racing community as well as established favourites from further afield.

Teams of four, entry fee £10 per team for Injured Jockeys Fund.

To enter your team contact Bernard Mills on 0208 394 1107 or email bern.mills@btinternet.com

UPDATE 14/02/2017 - This stable visit is now fully booked. A reserve list is now in place.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Warren Greatrex and his team on Tuesday, 28th February 2017 at 8:30am.

The application form will be available in February's newsletter.

About Warren:

Address: Uplands, Upper Lambourn, Berkshire RG17 8QH

*Please note, there are limited numbers for this stable visit*

The club will once again be sponsoring the National Hunt Flat Race at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, 03rd March 2017. Race time: 5:25pm.

Please see 'members area' for more information about this event.

Our ever popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Tuesday, 7th March 2017 at 8pm. Doors open at 19:15pm.

Venue: The Long Room, Berkshire Stand, Newbury Racecourse

Panel: Lee McKenzie (chairperson), Tanya Stevenson, Jeremiah McGrath, Oliver Sherwood and Harry Whittington.

A pay bar and raffle (in aid of the IJF) will be available on the evening

Entrance Fee: £3 for West Berkshire Racing Club members or £7 for non West Berkshire Racing Club members.

Doors will open at 7.15pm. Event starts at 8pm.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Paul Henderson and his team on Wednesday, 29th March 2017 at 9am.

Address: 1 Manor Farm Cottages, Rockbourne Road, Whitsbury, Fordingbridge, SP6 3QR

The application form will be available in February's newsletter.

**Please note due to the size of the yard, we can only cater for a maxiumum of 30 members for this stable visit**

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Paul Webber and his team on Wednesday, 26th April 2017. Start time: 08:45am.

Paul's address is: Cropredy Lawn, Mollington, Banbury, Oxon, OX17 1DR (This address has been taken from Paul Webber's website).

A breakfast will be arranged at a local venue after the stable visit.

If you would like to attend this event, please complete the application form in March's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will once again be amongst the sponsors for this meeting.

First Race is at 2pm. Last race is at 17:25pm.

The West Berkshire Racing Club's AGM will take place on Wednesday, 10th May 2017. The AGM will start at 19:30pm.

Following the AGM, there will be a social evening where our guest will be Nick Rust, chief executive of the BHA.

Nick Rust has over 27 years of experience in the betting and gaming industry and joined the BHA from Ladbrokes PLC, where he was Managing Director, Retail, in January 2015. In his previous role he had oversight of around 2,500 betting shops and 13,000 staff. He re-joined Ladbrokes in 2011, having started at the firm as a cashier in 1987, and held roles at BskyB between 2002 and 2007, including as Managing Director of SkyBet, and at Gala Coral from 2007 to 2010, including as Managing Director, Remote Gambling and Coral Retail. He has extensive experience in industry and corporate affairs, having managed key relationships with Government and regulators, and has excellent relationships across British racing. Nick has been an owner since 2005, and currently has horses in training with Micky Hammond in Middleham, North Yorkshire, for whose training business he has also served as a Director.

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.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Jeremy Gask and his team on Monday, 15th May 2017 at 9am.

A breakfast will be arranged at a local venue after the stable visit.

More details on this stable visit and how to book will be in April's newsletter.

UPDATE 10/06/2017 - This visit is now fully booked and we are not accepting any new booking requests.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Charlie and Tracy Vigors at their Hillwood Stud, near Aldbourne.

Hillwood Stud specialise in breaking, pre-training, rest and rehabilitation, sales preparation and boarding broodmares.

Address: Hillwood Stud; Stock Lane; Aldbourne; Marlborough, Wiltshire; SN8 2NU

The application form will be available in June's next newsletter.

Update 27th August 2017 - The stable visit is now fully booked and we're not accepting any more booking requests.

If you are attending this stable visit, please note that this stable visit will now start at 9:30am.

Operational since October 2010, Ed and his team recently relocated to Kingsdown Stables in Upper Lambourn.  Ed has trained over 150 winners in his career including 13 individual Stakes races, not only domestically but also in France and Australia.

Directions:  From the centre of Lambourn take the B3400 to Upper Lambourn. Turn right into Maddle Road having passed Stan Moore’s and Mark Usher’s yards on the right, and continue to Kingsdown Stables on the left.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting David Menuisier and his team on Thursday, 19th October 2017. Start Time: 10:15am for start time of 10.30am.

David Menuisier is a French-born racehorse trainer based at Coombelands Racing Stables, the state-of-the-art equine facility in Pulborough, West Sussex, England. Having gained a wealth of experience assisting some of the greatest and most prestigious racehorse trainers from around the globe – Christiane Head-Maarek, Richard Mandella and John Dunlop OBE – in the last decade David has carved out a niche as a racehorse trainer in his own right.

Application and more details will be available in the next newsletter.

Venue: Agori House; Coombelands Lane; Pulborough; West Sussex; RH20 1BP

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be holding their annual National Hunt Preview Evening on Tuesday, 7th November 2017 at Newbury Racecourse.

On the panel this year will be, Luke Harvey (host); Nicky Henderson; Lizzie Kelly; Warren Greatrex & Brendan Powell JNR.

Venue: Paddock View, 1st Floor, Berkshire Stand, Newbury Racecourse

Entrance fee: £2 for west berkshire racing club members and £5 for non West Berkshire Racing Club members.

A pay bar will and a raffle in support of the Inured Jockey's Fund will be available on the evening.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Sam Thomas and his team on Thursday, 30th November 2017 at 9am.

After the stable visit, we'll be visiting The Hare in Lambourn for brunch.

The application form will be available in November's newsletter.

Sam's full address is: Saxon House Stables; Upper Lambourn; RG17 8QH

UPDATE 11th December 2017 - Due to the current weather conditions, our stable visit to Emma Lavelle, on Wednesday, 13th December 2017, has been CANCELLED.

We are looking to rearrange this stable visit until after the New Year.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The West Berkshire Racing Club's Christmas Social will take place on Saturday. 16th December 2017 at 19:30pm.

Our Christmas social and dinner will take its usual form of a free drink on arrival, sit down dinner, guest speaker, raffle in aid of IJF and light hearted quizzes. Tickets £25 per person. The booking form can be found in October's newsletter.

Oaksey House is undergoing major building works so we cannot hold this event there. The Walwyn Hall is a newly refurbished hall in Lambourn.

Venue: Walwyn Hall, Lambourn

Our guest speaker this year is Richard Hoiles.

Please be aware, due to roadworks, the M4 motorway, will be closing east and westbound carriageways between junctions 12 and 13 over the entie weekend from 9pm on Friday, 15th to 5am on Monday, 18th December 2017. Please allow extra time, if you are travelling to Lambourn for the Christmas Social.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Chris Gordon and his team on Wednesday, 10th January 2018 at 09:30am.

The application form will be available in December's newsletter.

Chris Gordon's address is: Gordon Racing; Morestead Stables; Morestead Road; Winchester; Hants; SO21 1JD.

We'll be visiting Emma Lavelle and her team on Tuesday, 16th December 2018 at 9:30am. This is the re-arranged visit from December 2017.

After the visit, we'll be having brunch at Silks on the Downs.

If you have already booked on this stable visit, please email Rob Watson, indicating wheather you're able to make the new date. If you're unable to make the new date, a full refund will be given.

If you're not booked on the stable visit and you wish to go, please contact Rob Watson.

Rob's email address can be found in the latest newsletter.

Our annual visit to the Cheltenham Festival Trials meeting coupled with a local stable visit has proved a popular event in previous years. This year we are visiting Kim Bailey, at his stables at Thorndale Farm, Andoversford near Cheltenham.

The coach will depart from Newbury Racecourse (car park 4) at 07:45am for the stable visit. We will leave Kim's stable for Cheltenham in good time for the first race. (First Race is at 12:40pm). Last race is at 16:35pm.

Pricing:
- Coach & stable visit - £23
- Coach, stable visit & discounted race admission ticket - £49 (admission ticket priced at £35 on the day)

This trip is dependant on there being sufficient uptake to make it finanically viable.

If any members wish to make their way independently tp Kim Bailey's stable to join the visit, they should contact Rob Watson.

Booking form is available in the December's newsletter.

Update 23/01/2018 - The quiz night has been postponed until further notice. If you have any queries, please don't hesitate to contact us.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Olly Murphy and his team on Monday, 26th February 2018 at 9am.

The application form and more details about the stable visit can be found in February's newsletter.

Olly Murphy's full address is: Warren Chase Stables, Wilmcote, Stratford Upon Avon,
Warwickshire, CV37 9XG

This year’s West Berkshire Racing Club's team Quiz will take place on Tuesday, 27th February at 8pm.

Teams are restricted to 12 tables of four made up of contestants from the local racing community as well as established favourites from further afield.

Teams of four, entry fee £10 per team for Injured Jockeys Fund.

To enter your team contact Bernard Mills on 0208 394 1107 or email bern.mills@btinternet.com

Due to the current weather conditions, racing at Newbury on Friday, 2nd March 2018 has been abandoned. This means our sponsered race will no longer take place on this date.

Our ever popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Tuesday, 6th March 2017 at 8pm.

Venue: Owners and Trainers bar, Newbury Racecourse

Panel: Lee McKenzie (chairperson), Lizzie Kelly; Mike Cattermole; Jamie Snowden and Charlie Mann

A pay bar and raffle (in aid of the IJF) will be available on the evening

Entrance Fee: £3 for West Berkshire Racing Club members or £7 for NON West Berkshire Racing Club members.

Doors will open at 7.15pm. Event starts at 8pm.

When accessing Newbury racecourse, please use the Hambridge Road entrance. Post Code: RG14 7PN.

Parking is available outside the Lodge Hotel.

Update 05/03/2018 - We can confirm that our Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening is going ahead as planned. We hope to see you there.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Colin Tizzard and his team on 3rd April 2018.

Colin has requested a maximum of 40 people for this stable visit. As a result, there is a first come, first served basis.

The application form can be found under the Members Area.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Stan and Sara Moore’s Berkeley House Stables in Upper Lambourn, on Tuesday, 1st May 2018.

If you wish to attend this stable visit, please complete the application form in March's newsletter. March's newsletter can be found in the member's area.

Directions:  RG17 8QP From Lambourn, take the road to Upper Lambourn, passing Charlie Mann’s Neardown Stables on the left, and Berkeley House stables are on the RIGHT, alongside Mark Usher’s Rowdown House Stables

The West Berkshire Racing Club's AGM will take place on Wednesday, 09th May 2018, at 19:30pm.

Following the AGM, there will be a social evening where our guest will be George Baker, inspriational flat jockey who retired after being seriously injured following a fall when racing on the ice at St Moritz.

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.

We are delighted to have arranged this stud visit which promises to be a real treat!

Tweenhills Stud was established in 1995 following the conversion of the Redvers’ family farm.  The stud’s association with Sheikh Fahad and his brothers through Qatar Bloodstock and Pearl Bloodstock has enabled them to continue to upgrade the facilities and the stallions: Charm Spirit, Havana Gold and Hot Streak.

Tweenhills is home to the new stallion unit and visiting mares, Corsend Farm houses the modern foaling unit, Chargy Hill is kept predominantly as a young stock farm with a new stunning range of winter barns, whilst Catsbury is a pre-training and breaking yard alongside the leased Vicarage isolation yard.

Directions: Tweenhills is situated five miles to the north of Gloucester on the A417 just below the village of Hartpury.  GL19 3BG

The application form for this stud visit, is now avaialble in the May's newsletter.

The Windsor evening meeting on Monday July 2nd, is a Newbury reciprocal meeting, so hopefully a number of WBRC members will be planning to go. If so, why not bring your picnic and join us in the car park before racing?  

We plan to congregate in the right hand corner of the members car park closest to the river. This is close to the pier where racegoers arriving by boat disembark.

The gates are open at 4pm, and the first race is scheduled for 6.00 pm, so we aim to arrive from 4.30pm onwards. Please remember to bring your picnic, and something to sit on!  

In addition to the 7 races, there is music after racing from the ‘Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club’, so weather permitting, it should be a fantastic night. We look forward to seeing as many members as possible there.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Mick Channon and his team on Wednesday, 19th September 2018 at 9:30am.

The booking form and full details is available in August's newsletter.

UPDATE 7th September 2018 - Due to a high response, we're NO longer accepting applications for this stable visit.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Jamie Snowden and his team on Tuesday, 9th October 2018, with a start time of 10am.

Full details and the application form is available in August's newsletter.

Update 20/09/2018 - Due to a high response, we're NO longer accepting applications for this visit

The club's sponsored race at Newbury Racecourse will take place on Friday, 26th October 2018 at 4pm

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Ben Case and his team on Thursday, 01st November 2018 with a start time of 09:30am.

There is racing at Stratford racecourse, which is a Newbury reciprocal day.

Directions to Ben Case stables: From M40, leave at Junction 11 and take A422/A361 towards Banbury. At the roundabout take A361 towards Daventry. Continue for about 4 miles. After entering Wardington Village , turn right on sharp bend at Hare & Hounds Pub towards Edgecote. Continue for about ¼ mile  until you see Wardington Gate Farm on left where you will see entrance to stables. There are two roads into stables and you can take either. Address & Postcode is: Wardington Gate Farm; Edgecote; Banbury; Oxfordshire; OX17 1AG

Our National Hunt preview evening will be held on Tuesday, 6th November 2018 at 8pm. Doors open at 7:15pm.

Venue: Owners & Trainer, Newbury Racecourse

On the Panel: Lizzie Kelly, Harry Whittington, Oliver Sherwood and Richard Hoiles. More names will be added shortly.

Entrance Fee: £2 for West Berkshire Racing Club members or £5 for non West Berkshire Racing Club members.

More details to follow.

The West Berkshire Racing Club's Christmas Social will take place on Saturday, 08th December 2018.

Our Christmas social and dinner will take its usual form of a sit down dinner, guest speaker, raffle in aid of IJF and light hearted quizzes.

Venue: Walwyn Hall, Lambourn

Our guest speaker will be Luke Harvey.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Harry Whittington and his team on Tuesday, 11th December at 9am.

Breakfast will be available at a local pub after the visit.

If you would like to attend this visit, please complete the application from in October's newsletter.

Update 03/11/2018 - Due to a high response, we're NO longer accepting applications for this stable visit.

Directions: From Newbury travel north to join the M4 westbound at Chieveley. Exit the M4 at junction 14 and take the A338 towards Wantage. Take the first left towards Lambourn on the B4000. At the Hare pub, turn right towards Lambourn. In Lambourn, go straight over the crossroads. Go out of Lambourn and follow the road over the gallops to the top of the hill. Turn left at the top of the hill and take the drive immediately on your left. Turn left at the first turning into Hill Barn stables [OX12 9XB]

Disclaimer: Please note that directions for stable visits and other events are provided based on the information available to us but cannot be guaranteed to be correct. Similarly post codes provided for navigation purposes cannot be certain to pin point the precise location of the stables. Members are advised to leave ample time for their journey and be prepared to ask locally for directions

Our annual visit to the Cheltenham Festival Trials meeting coupled with a local stable visit has proved a popular event in previous years. This year we are visiting Charlie Longsdon, at his stables near Chipping Norton.

The coach will depart from Newbury Racecourse (car park 2) at 07:45am for the stable visit. We will leave Charlie’s stable for Cheltenham in good time for the first race. The stable visit starts at 09:15am.

Pricing:
- Coach & stable visit - £24
- Coach, stable visit & discounted race admission ticket - £49 (admission ticket priced at £30 on the day)

This trip is dependant on there being sufficient uptake to make it finanically viable.

If any members wish to make their way independently to Charlie Longsdon stable to join the visit, they should contact Kathy Tuggey.

Booking form is available in the November’s newsletter.

This year’s West Berkshire Racing Club's team Quiz will take place on Tuesday, 5th February 2019. The quiz will start at 19:30pm.

Teams are restricted to 12 tables of four made up of contestants from the local racing community as well as established favourites from further afield.

Teams of four, entry fee £10 per team for Injured Jockeys Fund.

To enter your team contact Bernard Mills on 0208 394 1107 or email bern.mills@btinternet.com

Update 21/02/2019: There is limited availability for this stable visit. If you wish to attend this stable visit, please call or email Kathy Tuggey. Kathy’s contact details can be found in February’s newsletter, which be found under the ‘Members Area’.

We our pleased to announce that we will be visiting Neil King and his team at Barbury Castle on Tuesday, 26th February 2019. The stable visit will start at 10am.

After the visit, we'll be visiting the ‘Silks on the Downs’ for brunch.

If you would like to book your place on this trip, please complete the application form in December’s newsletter.

Please note, due to the size of the yard, we can only cater for a maxiumum of 25 members for this stable visit. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

HOW TO GET THERE: Leave Newbury on the A339 and join the A34. Take the exit towards Chieveley and then join the M4 westbound towards South Wales.  Leave the M4 at Junction 15 signed Marlborough/Swindon at the roundabout turn left towards Marlborough. After approx one mile turn right at Chiseldon onto the B4005. In Chiseldon turn right and follow signs for Barbury Castle / Wroughton. At next junction turn left and you will pass a new housing development on the right.  Continue on this road for around 2 miles and you will arrive at Burderop. [SN4 0QH]

The club is sponsoring a race at Newbury, on Friday, 1st March 2019.

The West Berkshire Racing Club Handicap is scheduled to be run at 5pm.

We look forward to as many members as possible joining us in Suites 407/408, which are based in the Berkshire Stand, where drinks and snacks will be provided.

All Newbury members and Premier badge holders will be able to access the facility from 12pm onwards. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Our ever popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Thursday, 7th March 2019 at 8pm.

Venue: Owners and Trainers bar, Newbury Racecourse

Panel: Lee McKenzie (chairperson); Mike Cattermole; Seamus Mullins; James Burn (Racing Post) & Lizzie Kelly.

A pay bar and raffle (in aid of the IJF) will be available on the evening.

Doors will open at 7.15pm. Event starts at 8pm.

When accessing Newbury racecourse, please use the Hambridge Road entrance. Post Code: RG14 7PN. Parking is available outside the Lodge Hotel.

Entrance Fee: £3 for West Berkshire Racing Club members. £7 for NON members of the West Berkshire Racing Club.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Dan Skelton & his team on Thursday, 28th March 2019. Start time: 09:45am. After the visit, we'll be visiting a local pub for brunch.

Dan has worked with horses for his whole life and spent nine years as Assistant Trainer to Champion National Hunt Trainer Paul Nicholls. Now, with that invaluable experience under his belt, he has embarked on his own training career and concluded his first season’s training with 27 winners under his belt, including Willow’s Saviour’s memorable victory in the 2013 Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot.

The booking form for this stable visit will be available in February’s newsletter.

Update 18/04/2019: Please note that this stable visit will now start at 09:30am and NOT 10am, as previously advertised. Please arrive no later than 09:15am.

Update 05/03/2019: Due to a high number of applications, this stable visit is now fully booked. However, if you wish to be placed on a waiting list, please contact Kathy Tuggey.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we’ll be visiting Ralph Beckett and his team on Tuesday, 23rd April 2019. Start time: 9:15am for a 09:30am start.

Ralph started as stable lad in 1989, spending a year in Australia working for Colin Hayes and others. He then did two seasons with Jimmy Fitzgerald, a summer in Belmont, New York, and two and a half years with Arthur Moore. After a season with Martin Pipe, he went to work for Peter Walwyn as his assistant in 1996.

Ralph took over from Peter in 2000, training 105 winners from Windsor House in Lambourn. His best performer whilst there was the G3 Fred Darling winner Penkenna Princess, who was a short-head second in the 2005 Irish 1000 Guineas. Come On Jonny won The November Handicap the same year. Whitsbury Manor’s Landlord Chris Harper asked him to go there for the 2006 season, replacing David Elsworth, trainer of Desert Orchid and Persian Punch.

After the stable visit, we’ll be visiting The White Horse in East Cholderton for brunch.

The application form for this stable visit will be in February’s newsletter.

More details to follow.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Paul Nicholls and his team on Thursday, 9th May 2019.

For more information, please see February’s newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will once again be amongst the sponsors for this meeting.

Our AGM will take place on Wednesday, 22nd May 2019 at 19:30pm.

We are delighted that John Blake, CEO of Racing To School, will be joining us after our short AGM. John is very entertaining and inspirational about getting young people involved in racing.

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.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Gary Moore and his yard on Wednesday, 5th June 2019.

More information and the booking form will be available in March’s newsletter.

The Windsor evening meeting on Monday, 01st July is a Newbury reciprocal meeting, so hopefully a number of WBRC members will be planning to go. If so, why not bring your picnic and join us in the car park before racing? We plan to congregate in the right hand corner of the members car park closest to the river. This is close to the pier where racegoers arriving by boat disembark.
The gates are open at 4.00 pm, and the first race is scheduled for 6.00 pm, so we aim to arrive from 4.30 pm onwards.

Please remember to bring your picnic, and something to sit on! In addition to the 7 races, there is music after racing from the ‘Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club’, so weather permitting, it should be a fantastic night.

We look forward to seeing as many members as possible there. If anyone is struggling to locate us, please contact David Lees. David’s telephone number can be found in the newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are delighted to be visiting Trinity Park Stud on Wednesday, 17th July at 10:30am.

The booking form is available is available in May’s newsletter.

Please meet in the car park, as a group before the start of the visit.

Update 4th August 2019: We have received a high number of bookings for this stable visit. As a result, this stable visit is now fully booked.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be Visit Jamie Osborne and his team on Wednesday, 4th September. The stable visit will start at 09:30am.
The visit will include both Jamie’s training yards where he stables 2 and 3 year olds as well as some older horses, and hopefully a visit to gallops.

The stable’s most prominent success was Toast of New York (now retired) who won the UAE Derby in Dubai before racing in America. Jamie is well known for his outspoken (and sometimes controversial) views, so this promises to be an entertaining visit. We may even meet Bobby, his infamous whippet!

Brunch at The Plough, Eastbury RG17 7JN has been booked for those who wish to stay at a cost of £12 a head. Visit limited to c.40 people.

Update 30th July 2019: This stable visit is now fully booked.

We have been very fortunate to secure a WBRC visit to Richard Hannon’s & his team.

Richard needs no introduction as a top-class flat trainer. A stellar first season in 2014 saw him crowned Champion Trainer with the victories of Night of Thunder in the 2,000 Guineas and Toronado in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He backed up the following year with victories from Pethers Moon in the Coronation Cup and Night of Thunder in the Lockinge.

Having had five years in the job, he has managed to gain Group 1 success every season, with Billesdon Brook gaining a second Classic success in 2018 and Barney Roy taking victory in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by a short head second in the Coral Eclipse.

This visit is limited to some 25 members. Applications will be treated on a first come, first served basis.

A light breakfast will be provided at the start of the visit so it is important that members arrive promptly and meet together in the car park.

Our National Hunt preview evening will be held on Tuesday, 22nd October 2019 at 8pm. Doors open at 7:15pm.

Venue: Owners Club, Newbury Racecourse

On the Panel: Charlie Longsdon; Joe Hill; Lizzie Kelly & Josh Apiafi

Entrance Fee: £3 for WBRC Members. £7 NON members.

When accessing Newbury Racecourse, please use the Hambridge Road entrance. Sat navs use postcode RG14 7PN which will take you over the railway bridge to Nuffield Health Centre which is a short distance from Newbury Racecourse.

We are delighted to have been invited to visit the offices of Weatherbys for an overview of their various roles within the thoroughbred industry. We will be given a wonderful chance to see behind the scenes of this historic business as well as attend a number of presentations in their conference room. Refreshments on arrival, as well as a free buffet lunch will be provided.

There is no restriction on numbers so please invite friends and non-members who might be interested in such an opportunity.

Full details can be found in July/August newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club see please to announce that we’ll be visiting Oliver Sherwood and his team on Thursday, 21st November. Start time: 08:30am.

If you would like to secure your place on this trip, please use the booking form in September’s newsletter.

Update 06/11/2019 - Please note that the Christmas Social has been CANCELLED. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

This is the first occasion that the WBRC has managed to arrange a visit to this legendary trainer who generally prefers to remain fairly private.

The visit requires an early start to see some fabulous facilities and horses on the Cotswold Downs.

The plan is for the group to arrive to see second lot being exercised on the adjacent gallops, as well as a tour of the extensive facilities and stables. Second lot will depart at 08:20am. We will see some of the 40 or so promising four-year olds, as well as Cloth Cap, a likely Grand National contender.

To secure your place on this trip, please use the booking form in September’s newsletter.

Our annual visit to the Cheltenham Festival Trials meeting coupled with a local stable visit has proved a popular event in previous years. This year we are visiting Fergal O’Brien, at Grange Hill Farm; Naunton.

The coach will depart from Newbury Racecourse. We will leave Fergal’s stable for Cheltenham in good time for the first race.

The booking form is available in December’s newsletter.

This year’s West Berkshire Racing Club's team Quiz will take place on Tuesday, 11th February 2019. The quiz will start at 19:30pm.

Teams are restricted to 12 tables of four made up of contestants from the local racing community as well as established favourites from further afield.

Teams of four, entry fee £20 per team for Injured Jockeys Fund.

To enter your team contact Bernard Mills on 0208 394 1107 or email bern.mills@btinternet.com

The West Berkshire Racing Club has been advised that the Kingston Blount Point to Point on Saturday 22nd February 2020, has been cancelled.

If you have any queries, please contact Kingston Blount.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Dominic Ffrench-Davis and his team on Tuesday, 25th February 2020.

Booking form and full details can be found in November's newsletter.

Our annual sponsored race is scheduled for Friday, 28th February 2020, at Newbury Racecourse.

Following the cancellation of the Christmas social, we shall take the opportunity to present our cheque to a representative from the IJF for all monies raised in 2019.

The club will have exclusive use of a hospitality box in the Berkshire Stand. This will offer a superb view of the course from the balcony as well as a refuge from the winter weather.

Tea, coffee and a light lunch will be provided and we are asking all members who wish to attend to contribute £20 a head to the cost of the box and refreshments. Please complete the booking form in December’s newsletter.

We hope to see as many members as possible for what should be a wonderful afternoon.

Our ever popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Thursday, 5th March 2020 at 8pm.

Venue: Owners and Trainers bar, Newbury Racecourse

Panel: Lee McKenzie (Chair Person); Warren Greatrex; Page Fuller; Lizzie Kelly & Journalist, James Burn.

A pay bar and raffle (in aid of the IJF) will be available on the evening.

Doors will open at 7.15pm. Event starts at 8pm.

When accessing Newbury racecourse, please use the Hambridge Road entrance. Post Code: RG14 7PN. Parking is available outside the Lodge Hotel.

Entrance Fee:

West Berkshire Racing Club members - £5.

NON West Berkshire Racing Club members - £10

Our stable visit to Seamus Mullins has been CANCELLED.

UPDATE 04/06/2020: Due to the Covid-19, this visit can been cancelled. More details can be found in the newsletter. 

Established in 1948, Whitsbury Manor Stud has a long-established tradition. Whitsbury Manor Stud is situated in a beautiful location with over 750 acres of secure post and rail paddocks situated on the chalk of the Hampshire Downs. A host of successful stallions have been housed at the stud including Ballymoss, Compton Place, Distant Relative, Young Generation, and Cadeaux Genereux.
Showcasing, one of the most exciting stallions standing in Britain today, now stands at the stud and heads the roster. In addition, we will see the stud’s most recent new stallion Havana Grey, a Group 1 winning sprinter as well as Adaay, a dual Group 2 winning son of Kodiac, and Due Diligence, a son of War Front. In addition to viewing a parade of the four stallions, we hope to see a number of brood mares and foals.

Again, due to the visit finishing at lunch time, we will leave any lunch arrangements for members to arrange to suit themselves.

The booking form is available in March’s newsletter

UPDATE 11th September 2020: Sadly, we have had to postpone both stable visits (Eve Johnson Houghton & Daniel Kubler) which had been planned for September and October. This is a consequence of the new government social group size requirements, announced this week. Both trainers are adamant that this is only a postponement until restrictions have been lifted. Clearly, none of us can predict when this will be, but hopefully we can rearrange for next spring when flat horses will be coming back into training

UPDATE 11th September 2020: Sadly, we have had to postpone both stable visits (Eve Johnson Houghton & Daniel Kubler) which had been planned for September and October. This is a consequence of the new government social group size requirements, announced this week. Both trainers are adamant that this is only a postponement until restrictions have been lifted. Clearly, none of us can predict when this will be, but hopefully we can rearrange for next spring when flat horses will be coming back into training

UPDATE 11th September 2020: Sadly, we have had to postpone both stable visits (Eve Johnson Houghton & Daniel Kubler) which had been planned for September and October. This is a consequence of the new government social group size requirements, announced this week. Both trainers are adamant that this is only a postponement until restrictions have been lifted. Clearly, none of us can predict when this will be, but hopefully we can rearrange for next spring when flat horses will be coming back into training

Full information and the booking details will be available in May's newsletter. We are NOT accepting any bookings prior to the release of May's newsletter. Any booking received before May's newsletter will NOT be accepted.

Established in 1948, Whitsbury Manor Stud has a long-established tradition. Whitsbury Manor Stud is situated in a beautiful location with over 750 acres of secure post and rail paddocks situated on the chalk of the Hampshire Downs. A host of successful stallions have been housed at the stud including Ballymoss, Compton Place, Distant Relative, Young Generation, and Cadeaux Genereux.

Showcasing, one of the most exciting stallions standing in Britain today, now stands at the stud and heads the roster. In addition, we will see the stud’s most recent new stallion Havana Grey, a Group 1 winning sprinter as well as Adaay, a dual Group 2 winning son of Kodiac, and Due Diligence, a son of War Front. In addition to viewing a parade of the four stallions, we hope to see a number of brood mares and foals.

Please note that there is a maximum of 30 members.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Andrew Balding and his team on 20th July 2021.

UPDATE 05/06/2021: This stable visit is now fully booked. However, we are accepting applications that will go on a waiting list

UPDATE 24/07/2021: Due the high volume of booking requests, the visit is now fully booked. We are now operating a waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Eve Johnson-Houghton on 7th September at 09:30.

Roger Teal is predominantly a flat trainer, based in one of the historic yards in the centre of Lambourn. Members may recall that the WBRC last visited Roger in 2016, when he was based in Great Shefford, near Lambourn. Currently, his highest profile horse in training is Oxted, who won the 2020 July Cup and 2021 King’s Stand.

Sue Teal, Roger’s wife, is his chief organiser and will arrange for cars to park in the field opposite the stables. However, if the weather is inclement making the field unusable, smaller cars will have to park in the side streets of Lambourn and walk back. There will be some parking in the yard for those who really need to be close by. Please allow extra time to accommodate these arrangements and share cars if at all possible.

The plan is to tour the yard including the equine swimming pool and take a trip to see second lot on the gallops.

Afterwards, optional brunch has been booked at The Pheasant Inn, Ermin St, Shefford Woodlands, Hungerford RG17 7AA.

To secure your place on this stable visit, please complete the booking form with the September's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be proudly sponsoring the 17:00 race at Newbury Racecourse.

There are 16 horses declared for our sponsored race.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be holding it's annual National Hunt preview evening on Tuesday, 26th October, 2021 at 19:30.

Panel: On the panel will be, Jamie Snowden, Page Fuller, Joe Hill & James Burns (Racing Post)

Venue: Owners & Trainers Bar, Newbury Racecourse

Entrance Fee: £3 for WBRC members & £7 for NON West Berkshire Racing Club members.

There will be a raffle on the night, in aid of racing charities.

PLEASE NOTE: Entrance and raffle is CASH ONLY.

When purchasing a drink from the bar, this is CARD ONLY.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Nicky Henderson and his team on Thursday, 4th November 2021.

To secure your place on this stable visit, please complete the application within October's newsletter.

We're pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Alan King and his stable on Thursday, 2nd December 2021.

UPDATE 05/11/2021: Please note that we have now reached the number of spaces for the upcoming Alan King stable visit. If you wish to be put onto the waiting list, please contact Kathy.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are planning on running their annual coach trip to Cheltenham Racecourse via a stable visit to Martin Keighley.

The trip does depend on the number of members on planning on attending the event.

If you plan on attending the event, please complete the application within December's newsletter. Please book early to avoid any disappointment

UPDATE 24/01/2021: Due to the ongoing Covid situation, we have decided to postpone the quiz night.

We hope to rearrange the quiz to a later date.

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Seamus Mullins and his team on Wednesday, 23rd February at 09:30am.

More information is available within December's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Alan & Lawney Hill on Wednesday, 23rd March at 09:30.

For further information, please read February's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Lawney and Alan Hill, on Tuesday, 12th April 2022 at 09:15am

This is the new date.

Bookings from the previous visit still counts. If you are unable to attend, please contact Kathy.

If you have not secured a booking but wish to attend, please would like to attend, please contact Kathy.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Milton Harris and his team on Thursday, 28th April 2022.

Arrive at 09:00 for a 09:30 start.

If you would like to attend this event, please complete the booking form in March's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Muir and Grassick racing on Wednesday, 25th May 2022. Arrive no later than 08:45, for a 09:00 start.

The booking form is available in April's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Race Club are pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Clive Cox and his team on Tuesday, 12th July 2022 at 09:30.

Please note, that the club are NOT arranging breakfast after this stable visit. If you wish to enjoy breakfast after the stable visit, this most be booked by yourself.

Update 10/06/2022: We have now reached capacity for this stable visit. Any bookings received after Friday, 10th June 2022 will go onto the waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are visiting Mark and his team on 22nd September 2022.

To book your place, please use the booking form within July's newsletter.

UPDATE 25/07/2022: This stable visit has been very popular and we have received a high number of applications. As a result, an new applications received after 25th July, will be placed on a waiting list.

The club is delighted to be sponsoring a race at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, 21st October 2022. This will be a Class 3 handicap over 7 furlongs, worth £11,500 to the winner and is planned to be ran at 15:45.

To celebrate the clubs 40th year, we have a box hired in the Berkshire Stand for 60 WBRC members.

Please see Septembers newsletter for more information and on how to book. We would love to see you there to celebrate the club's 40th year.

UPDATE 12/09/2022 - We have received a high night off applications for this event. Any application received after Monday, 12th September, will put on a waiting list.

Entries for the NH tipping competition closes on Wednesday, 9th November 2022.

Details of the NH tipping competition can be found in October 2022 newsletter.

Good Luck!!

The West Berkshire Racing Club are delighted to be visiting Neil Mulholland and his team on Wednesday, 9th November 2022 at 10:15.

For more information, and to secure your place, please refer to October's newsletter.

UPDATE 04/12/2022: Please note that the start time has been amended. The new start time is to arrive at 10:15 for a 10:30 start.

UPDATE 12/11/2022 - This event has been proven to be very popular and we have now reached capacity. As a result, we have now created a waiting list for this event.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Warren and his team on Wednesday, 7th December 2022 @ 10:00.

UPDATE 12/11/2022 - This event has been proven to be very popular and we have now reached capacity. As a result, we have now created a waiting list for this event.

Following from our stable visit to Warren Greatrex, we will be holding our annual Christmas lunch on Wednesday, 7th December 2022 at 12:15.

Venue: The Pheasant, Lambourn.

The West Berkshire Racing Club have created a league within ITV 7 and we would love as many members to join the league as possible.

Details on how to join the West Berkshire Racing Club league can be found in Octobers newsletter.

The committee would like to hear the feedback from its members and within December's newsletter, is a questionnaire that the committee have put together.

We would appreciate if you could take time to complete this questionnaire and return this to the committee by Friday, 20th January 2023.

The questions and answers are aimed to shape the future of the club.

Thank you for your time.

The questionnaire can be found within December 2022 newsletter.

Our annual visit to the Cheltenham Festival Trials meetings coupled with a local stable visit has proved a popular event in previous years. This year, the club will be visiting Richard Phillips and his team at Moreton-In-Marsh.

This will be a coach trip departing from Newbury Racecourse.

Full details can be found within December 2022 newsletter and please book now, to avoid disappointment.

The club are pleased to announce that they'll be visiting Oliver Signy and his team on Wednesday, 8th February 2023 with a start time of 09:30.

To book your place on this stable visit, please use the booking form within December 2022 newsletter.

Our annual quiz will take place on Wednesday. 8th February 2023 at Newbury Racecourse.

More information to follow

UPDATE 28/02/2023 - This stable visit is now fully booked. Any booking received after Monday, 27th February 2023, will be put on a waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Chris Gordon and his team on Tuesday, 7th March 2023, with a start time of 08:45.

If you want to secure you place on this stable visit, please use the booking form within February's newsletter.

Our ever-popular Cheltenham Festival Preview Evening will take place on Thursday, 9th March 2023, with a start time of 19:30.

Panel: Lee Mackenzie (Chair); Oliver Sherwood; Seamus Mullins; Oliver Signy and James Burns, from the Racing Post.

Entrance Fee: £5 for WBRC Members and £10 for NON West Berkshire Racing Club Members.

Pre booking is NOT required. Ticket are only available on the night.

Payments: Entrance Fee: Cash or Card. Bar: Card Only (As the bar is operated by Newbury Racecourse). Raffle (in AID of IJF): Cash Only

The 2023/2024 membership renewals are due on 1st April 2023.

Please use the renewal form within February's newsletter.

UPDATE 16th April 2023 - This stable visit has been very popular. As a result, any applications received after Sunday, 16th April 2023, will be put on a waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club will be visiting Henry Candy and his team on Tuesday, 16th May 2023 at 09:00.

If you wish to book yourself on this visit, please use the booking form within March's newsletter.

Prior to racing at Windsor on Monday, 5th June, we plan to hold our annual picnic within the car park.

More details to follow, so watch this space.

The West Berkshire Racing Club's AGM will take place on Thursday, 8th June 2023, at 19:45.

Following our AGM, our president, Jamie Snowdon will talk about his life in and out of racing.

The AGM papers can be found under the Member's Area section of the website.

This year, the West Berks Racing Club, has been fortunate to receive an invitation to visit Overbury Stud, near Tewkesbury. We are very grateful to one of our founder members, Richard Venn, who is a bloodstock agent and has assisted with the arrangements. The date coincides with afternoon racing at Worcester for members who wish to make a full day of it.

There are currently 6 stallions standing at Overbury- Ardad, Caturra, Frontiersman, Golden Horn, Jack Hobbs and Schiaparelli.  During the visit, we will view a stallion parade and see a number of mares and foals in the nearby paddocks. On this occasion, we will not be arranging a meal afterwards, but we will suggest some venues which members may like to book themselves should they not be going on to Worcester.

Directions to Stud

Driving along A46 heading in north easterly direction drive to Beckford. At Beckford village, turn left at The Beckford Inn into Ashton Road. After a short distance turn left into Main Street. At a T junction turn right towards Overbury. Just before you enter Overbury Village, there is a small turning on the left to Overbury Stud. We will endeavour to put out club signs too.

Please also refer to your own maps, satnav and Stud web site where you will find a location map in the contacts section. https://www.ovstud.co.uk/stallions/

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we'll be visiting Tom Ward and his team on Wednesday, 6th September 2023.

Update 01st August 2023: Due to the high demand of applications, we have now reached capacity. We are now are waiting list only.

Update 26th September: We have now reached capacity for this stable visit. Any application received on or after Wednesday, 27th September, will be put on a waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we will be visiting Owen Burrows and his team on Thursday, 19th October 2023.

RACING AT NEWBURY ON FRIDAY, 27TH OCTOBER HAS BEEN ABANDONED

We will be contacting all members who had booked to attend in due course

The West Berkshire Racing Club are sponsoring the 16:20, 6f race at Newbury Racecourse on Friday, 27th October 2023.

We have also arranged a executive box for members to enjoy the day.

Further details will be available in September's newsletter.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we’ll be visiting Richard Bundey and his team on Wednesday 8th November at 09:00.

More details to follow.

The 2023/2024 National Hunt Season Ten to Follow competition is now open.  Please note your entries must be received by Wednesday, 15th November 23.  Entry Forms are on the website under the Ten To Follow links.

We are currently planning a trip to the Irish National Stud and Punchestown races.

Departing Heathrow on Friday, 24th November and returning on Sunday, 26th November 2023.

For full information, the full itinerary is within April's newsletter.

If you are interested in attending or wish to obtain more information, please make contact with Shirley Lees. Shirley's contact details are within April's newsletter.

Update on 3rd October 23.  We have now reached capacity for this event. Any applications now received will be put on a waiting list.

The West Berkshire Racing Club are pleased to announce that we will be visitng Harry Denham and his team on Wednesday, 6th December 2023.

We will be arranging to meet at 09:45.

Following the stable visit with Harry, we will be having our annual Christmas lunch at The Pheasant in Lambourn.

Full details on the stable visit and how to book can be found in August's newsletter.

Please note that we will be meeting at The Pheasant Inn at Lambourn, prior going to Harry Derham yard. Please DO NOT head straight to Harry's yard.

Please note this is not a West Berks Racing Club but we are promoting on behalf of Richard Phillips Racing.  For further information, please email info@richardphillipsracing.com or telephone 01608 658710

We plan to run our annual coach trip to Cheltenham Trials Day provided there is sufficient demand.  We will be stopping on the way to visit Kim Baily Racing.  Full details in the December 23 issue of the newsletter.

A stable visit has been arranged for Thursday, 8th February 24.  Jo Davis is a small scale NH Trainer just outside Swindon.  Full details in the December 23 issue of the newsletter.

This is the club's biggest fund raising event of the year and we have an exciting panel lined up for you.  The evening will be chaired by Colin Brown.  The panel are Charlie Longsdon (Trainer), Jerry McGrath (retired Jockey), Dan Horsford (Assistant Trainer to Alan King) and James Burn (Racing Post Lambourn Correspondent).

Non members welcome - £10 on the door.  Members £5 on the door.

Bar (cashless) and Raffle (cash or cashless) will be available.

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOW FULLY BOOKED

Please see the latest newsletter for full details of this exciting stable visit.

To book please use the booking form - email alan.elks@hotmail.com

This is a silent auction in aid of MND Association's Reading and West Berkshire branch and research work to help find a treatment and eventual cure for this brutal disease.

The auction goes live on the 11th March.  See our newsletter for full details.

SAVE THE DATE - details will be in the next newsletter

SAVE THE DATE - full details in next newsletter