The West Berkshire Racing Club organises a broad range of exciting events appealing to anyone with an interest in horse racing, including visits to racing stables, studs and race meetings as well as evening social events giving members the opportunity to meet racing personalities.

Stable visits
We visit racing yards belonging to both Flat and National Hunt trainers. We meet the trainers, tour the stables, see the horses on the gallops and learn about how the horses are trained. Some visits are planned to coincide with a local race meeting. Brunch at a nearby pub is a regular feature!
Recently we have been to Andrew Balding’s famous yard at Kingsclere; Clive Cox’s yard at Lambourn (where Lethal Force was trained); Amanda Perrett’s (previously run by her father Guy Harwood).

Stud Visits
Usually timed so we can see the mares with their newly-born foals, providing a fascinating insight into the world of breeding and the challenges involved. We recently went to the Norman Court Stud near Stockbridge where two stallions, Sixties Icon and Winker Watson are based.

Guest and Preview Evenings
The Club holds a series of discussion evenings with guest speakers from the world of racing. In the past year these have included Champion Trainer Nicky Henderson; Grand National winning jockeys Daryl Jacob and Brendan Powell Snr; Gold Cup winning jockey Andrew Thornton; TV presenters Tanya Stevenson, Luke Harvey and “Aussie” Jim McGrath; 2YO Handicapper Matthew Tester; trainers Eve Johnson Houghton, Jamie Osborne, Richard Phillips and Jamie Snowden. The Preview evenings at which top jockeys, trainers and media pundits point the way to ‘horses to follow’ cover the Hennessy, Cheltenham Festival and Aintree (NH) and the Guineas, Derby and King George (Flat).

Going to the races
Many Club members also belong to Newbury or other racecourses. The Club arranges a few raceday visits, sometimes preceded by a nearby stable visit.

Social Events
Additional social events include a Christmas party held at Oaksey House in Lambourn, to which our members and all the personalities we have met over the previous year are invited. An annual team quiz gives members a chance to pit their racing knowledge against the professionals.

The Organisation
The West Berkshire Racing Club is run by a volunteer committee on a non-profit making basis. We invite feedback from members, both at the AGM and throughout the year, as our aim is to offer events and visits that our members want to attend.

Best Turned Out Award at Newbury Racecourse
The West Berkshire Racing Club wishes to recognise the invaluable work of stable staff within the racing industry and has generously donated a challenge shield. Below, Rob Watson presents Charlie Mann with the Best Turned Out Award.