Runners and Riders - New horse racing exhibition opens at The Harley Gallery

PRESS RELEASE 

Runners and Riders - New horse racing exhibition opens at The Harley Gallery

5 May 2012 - February 2014

 

Love the races? 5 May 2012 is a great day for horse racing fans. It's the start of the classics, with the 2000 Guineas race at Newmarket, plus it's Doncaster Racecourse's fabulous flat race meeting. 5 May is also the opening of a new historical horse racing exhibition at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck. 

Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing will show objects and paintings to tell the story of how the Cavendish-Bentinck family at Welbeck helped change the face of horse racing, to become the sport we know today.

The 4th Duke of Portland firmly established the Cavendish-Bentinck's relationship with Newmarket, building the Portland Stand at the course. His younger son, Lord George Bentinck encouraged reforms to better regulate horse racing, earning him the nickname 'Lord Paramount of the Turf' at Newmarket. His horses won the 2000 Guineas twice - with Grey Momus winning in 1838 and Crucifix in 1840. Visit the exhibition to see paintings of these horses by leading equestrian artists, and the spectacular 'St George and the Dragon' trophy commissioned for Grey Momus. 

The 6th Duke of Portland also won the 2000 Guineas in 1888, with Ayrshire. Ayrshire was one of the 6th Duke's most successful horses. In one season alone Memoir, Ayrshire, Donovan and Semolina won over £93,000 - over £8 million today. Ayrshire's hoof is on show in the exhibition, with many other curious objects and artifacts, including a wheel from the first ever horse box. The horse box was invented by Welbeck's very own Lord George Bentinck. He realised that the horses would race better if they were transported to the race, and started to use a van to move them - helping his horse Elis to win the 1836 St Leger at Doncaster.

If you fancy a flutter with horse racing history, visit Runners and Riders: The Rise of Modern Horse Racing at The Harley Gallery, Welbeck, from 5 May to 2014.

Exhibition curator Patricia Connor will be giving a talk at The Harley Gallery on 19 May at 2pm. Discover stories of horseracing, skulduggery, victory, loss and philanthropy. Tickets cost £10 / £8 concessions, booking essential. Call 01909 501 700.

The Harley Gallery is on the A60 between Mansfield and Worksop, is free to enter and also has free parking.

The exhibition will be touring to the National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket and will be the first exhibition in their newly refurbished H.L.F. funded building.