Runaway success at Palace House with Godolphin Under Starter’s Orders education programme

Throughout June, The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art at Palace House, Newmarket, hosted 230 local primary school children for its furlong of the Godolphin Under Starter’s Orders education initiative.

Year 5 students from nine local primary schools visited the Palace House museum and art gallery to learn more about the history of horseracing and how it has influenced Newmarket’s history, economy and sociology right up to the present day.

The Godolphin Under Starter’s Orders programme, is run as a partnership with industry stakeholders, including Racing To School, The Jockey Club, Palace House and Newmarket Racecourses. It is kindly sponsored by Godolphin.

An exciting opportunity for learning outside of the classroom, the programme is designed to raise awareness of Newmarket’s rich heritage and offer the local students an insight into how horseracing has shaped their home-town.

Running in three different sections, the local primary pupils firstly got to experience a day at Dalham Stud, where they learnt about breeding, pedigrees and the ‘running of the stud’ from the Racing To School team.

Pupils then visited Palace House, experiencing the Rothschild Yard and learning about the work of the Retraining of Racehorses charity. They explored the Packard Galleries, the Maktoum Gallery of the Thoroughbred, listened to the tale of the Godolphin Arabian and learnt about silks. They also received a lesson from the dedicated education team, about how three Stuart Kings made Newmarket the home of horse-racing it is today.

Gabrielle Bell, Education Officer at Palace House, commented: “Palace House is passionate about learning and we are thrilled to be part of the Under Starter’s Orders education programme. It is wonderful to be engaging with local primary schools in such a meaningful and stimulating context. It is a unique experience which shows children the stories of Newmarket’s industry- past and present- and demonstrated how they are part of its next chapter.”

For the final trip of the programme, students went on to visit the renowned Newmarket July course, where they got to take part in a tour of the racecourse and experience the exciting atmosphere of a live race!

Sophie Able, General Manager at Newmarket Racecourses said: “We were delighted to host over 200 local primary school children here at the Adnams July Course to complete their three-day Godolphin Under Starter’s Orders programme. We hope they had a fantastic day out in the sunshine taking part in activities and of course, watching the racing. Newmarket Racecourses’ is fully committed to supporting the Under Starter’s Orders initiative and inspiring the next generation of racing fans, and we look forward to welcoming local students at our racecourses again soon.”