Newmarket, England is just about sixty-five miles outside of London and has become a cosmopolitan city that nears that of London through the international interest in and tourism due to one industry. Newmarket is in the county of Suffolk and as the name suggests is a market village, but what Newmarket has become famous for, throughout history and in current times, is the horse racing industry. Not only are the largest training centers in England found here, but in the world as well. Top breeders hold auctions, state of the art veterinary hospitals and research centers are located in this small town. The industry has come to support the town and and to create business for the cafes, the Newmarket hotel business, as well as the market shops and restaurants. The National Horse Racing Museum and an equine health center offer education and history, and even a pool for the soon to be famous to swim in, horses not jockeys. And leading out from these centers, trainers and their horses are provided with routes set up specifically for the gallops home.
The racing of horses in Newmarket dates back almost 900 years. This makes the town the earliest post-classical, recorded location of the sport. Popularity was increased during the early 17th century through King James I. The first wagered race took place in 1634, and was the result of the involvement and interest of King Charles. The administration of the Jockey’s club is in London, however the clubhouse is in Newmarket. A breeding center for thoroughbreds, The National Stud, was opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1967 and remains to be one of the few places around the world to attract international interest. There are almost 3,000 horses cared for and living inNewmarket at any given time. And a quarter of the jobs relate to the industry. Most of the stables are in the middle of the town, most of land is dedicated to the horses and to the breeding of them. This has affected and perhaps even created, the evolution of a different side to the industry and that is the sport painters. Many have produced on canvas what occurs in life, as PeterTillemans and John Wootton have painted scenes from the stables to the finish lines.