2023 Henry Cecil Open Weekend: everything you need to know

The Henry Cecil Open Weekend will take place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th September, giving visitors the rare chance to see behind the scenes at British horseracing’s HQ and visit some of the country’s best known training yards.

Named after the great and much missed Sir Henry Cecil, the Open Weekend is thrilled to be welcoming visitors to Newmarket once again this September. We have an action-packed weekend of events planned with highlights including the opening of trainers’ yards, the hugely popular Daylesford Organic Racing Personality Show Jumping Competition and for the first time, the Dullingham Park Shetland Grand National.

As well as raising money for our charity partners - Racing Welfare, Newmarket Open Door and British Racing School–the Henry Cecil Open Weekend is thrilled to form a part of National Racehorse Week, a nationwide initiative to celebrate the racehorse and showcase the excellent care and attention they receive each day.

Twenty-four yards are set to open their doors to the public from 9am – 12:30pm on Sunday 24th September, including Louise Allan, John Berry, George Boughey, John Butler, Tom Clover, Simon & Ed Crisford, Dylan Cunha, Ed Dunlop, Harry Eustace, Charlie Fellowes, James Ferguson, Ilka Gansera, Godolphin Rehoming, Rae Guest, Jack Jones, Phil McEntee, James Owen, Patrick Owens, Simon Pearce, Kevin Philippart de Foy, George Scott, Richard Spencer, Roger Varian, Stuart Williams. Prizes are on offer for the Best Turned Out yards, kindly sponsored by World Pool.

Access and tours to some of Newmarket’s finest equine establishments on Saturday 23rd September, including the British Racing School, the Injured Jockeys Fund’s fitness and rehabilitation centre - Peter O’Sullevan House, Jockey Club Rooms and Newmarket Equine Hospital. Visitors can also learn about the breeding process and meet the resident stallions at The National Stud.

General admission to the National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) costs £5 per day during the Henry Cecil Open Weekend when you show your Open Weekend wristband. This includes entrance to the museum, behind the scenes tours, access to the special exhibitions and a ride on the racehorse simulator.

An action-packed Sunday starts on Warren Hill Gallops, sponsored by Tattersalls. Fans can see stars including John & Thady Gosdens’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami alongside multiple Group 1 winners Mostahdaf, Inspiral and Nashwa being put through their paces between 8am – 9am on the famous Newmarket Heath. 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning trainer Sir Mark Prescott’s string will be on show as well as horses from yards including 2022 Epsom Derby winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, multiple Group 1 winning trainers William Haggas and David Simcock and rising star Kevin Phillipart de Foy. Simon Pearce’s Racing League winner Storm Catcher and Charlie Fellowes’ Group 3 winner Vadream will also be seen on the gallops.

Many famous champions have been purchased in the Tattersalls sales ring, including the 2023 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas winner, Chaldean and 2023 domestic Group 1 winners, Bradsell, Emily Upjohn and Khaadem. At 12pm on Sunday the ‘Tattersalls Talk’ will take place in the main sales ring. Learn a little about the oldest firm of horse auctioneers in the world and hear from an auctioneer how he sells high priced bloodstock.

Godolphin’s rehoming centre, which forms an integral part of the Godolphin Lifetime Care programme, is located at Woodditton Stud on the outskirts of Newmarket. Especially for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, Godolphin Rehoming will be showcased at Highfields Stables to allow visitors to see some flagbearers of the programme closer to the town centre. The yard will be open from 9am to 12.30pm on Sunday, 24 September.

There will be eight horses on show: Ascot Gold Cup-winning duo Papineau and Colour Vision, will be on show alongside Cross Counter, winner of the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup. They will be joined by multiple G1 winner Barney Roy, who landed the St James’s Palace Stakes, Jebel Hatta and Grosser Preis von Baden during his racing career, plus fellow G1 winner Blair House. Completing the line-up are Stakes winners Magny Cours (who was also third in the Dubai World Cup), Impulsif and Secret Protector.

Sunday afternoon’s entertainment will take place in the main arena on The Severals and will feature the Dullingham Park Shetland Grand National, Fitzdares Fun Dog Show, HCOW Racehorse Parade sponsored by Al Shaqab, and the hugely popular Daylesford Organic Racing Personality Show Jumping Competition.

The hotly anticipated and brand-new event for 2023, the Dullingham Park Shetland Grand National kicks off proceedings in our main arena on The Severals.

We will then see some of the stars of the past be paraded in the main arena as well as retired racehorses who have gone on to excel in new disciplines. The HCOW Retired Racehorse Parade, sponsored by Al Shaqab will see Ascot Gold Cup winner Trip To Paris enter the ring, popular G1 winner, Sheikhzayedroad, globetrotter Prince Of Arran, Godolphin’s Rehoming pupils Stage Magic and African Jazz as well as DR Yes who will be a poignant participant having been trained in Newmarket by Sir Henry Cecil. Multiple race winner Jack The Truth will also make an appearance fresh from being crowned RoR Champion at the Royal Norfolk Show while Tariq Too at the ripe age of 16 comes with a famous history as the face of Longines with Kate Winslet in 2014.

Watch Flat racing’s biggest names take on the jumps in the Daylesford Organic Racing Personality Show Jumping. This hugely exciting team competition will feature some of Britain’s best known flat jockeys and trainers as they take on each other in a relay style team event.

-Prices start at £15 per person for a weekend wristband when purchased in advance on our website, or £20 per person when purchased from any of our sites over the weekend. Children aged 16 years of age and under go FREE all weekend.

-Please visit www.thehenrycecilopenweekend.co.uk for more information and to buy tickets.

“We are delighted to be welcoming visitors back to Newmarket for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend. We have an action-packed two days of activities for all the family to enjoy and go behind the scenes in Newmarket. From the trainers’ yards opening, to tours of Newmarket’s finest equine attractions, and afternoon of entertainment on The Severals, there is something for everyone.’

“Named in honour of the great Sir Henry Cecil this weekend is all about celebration. We hope lots of people will join us to help raise as much money as possible for our fantastic charities.”