ENABLE was the star attraction as members of the public got to see the brilliant mare strut her stuff on the second day of the recent Henry Cecil open weekend in Newmarket.

Several of the town’s biggest trainers opened up their doors to celebrate the life of Sir Henry Cecil, giving visitors the rare opportunity to see behind the scenes at flat racing’s headquarters, as well as raising money for local charities.

The undoubted star of the show on the gallops was John Gosden’s wonder mare Enable, who enjoyed a light canter up Warren Hill as she continues her preparation to bid for an historic third victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in just a week’s time.

Enable brought out a large following and, as soon as her work was done, the public swarmed to Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House yard on Moulton Road. This was the first (and last) time Sir Mark opened his yard to the public.

A total of 21 trainers threw open their gates including Amy Murphy, David Simcock, Marco Botti, Hugo Palmer, Ed Dunlop and Charlie Fellowes.

Also popular was Godolphin Lifetime Care, in Hamilton Road, where various former racehorses were on view including Dubai World Cup winners African Story and Prince Bishop, and Gold Cup winners at Ascot, Colour Vision and Papineau.

On Saturday Peter O’Sullevan House, the recently opened state-of-the-art Injured Jockeys Fund’s rehabilitation and fitness centre opened its doors, along with the British Racing School.

Also open to the public over the weekend was Newmarket Equine Hospital and the National Stud.

Racing was on offer at Newmarket as well last Saturday and it would be a very good idea to put Henry Cecil Open Weekend in your diary now for 2021.

Getting to Newmarket

Newmarket is a 45-minute drive from Stansted Airport. There are flights to Stansted from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Derry and Kerry. Birmingham Airport is a two-hour drive.

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