Any trainer or permit holder wishing to exercise horses on Newmarket Training Grounds must first contact Jockey Club Estates Head Office.
Trainers wishing to be based in Newmarket and use Jockey Club Estates facilities on a daily basis require written permission from the Managing Director, following an interview.
New trainers are provided with a Newmarket Training Grounds Information Pack. This includes information on the location of gallops, opening times, Rules and Regulations, health and saftey and useful contact points. Those who wish it are given a tour of the faciliites by the Training Grounds Manager.
Any trainer or permit holder wishing to use the facilities at The Links National Hunt Training Grounds should contact Jockey Club Estates Head Office. Once granted permission to use the facilities to contact the Links Foreman prior to setting off on a journey to ensure the facility which they wish to use is availible.
Any person wishing to enquire about working non-thoroughbred horses at The Links should contact Jockey Club Estates Head Office.
The charging system for use of the training grounds at Newmarket is known as Heath Tax. It is paid by racehorse owners rather than their trainers.
All racehorses, who they are owned and trained by, are registered at Weatherbys. Each month every trainer using the Heath is sent a list of horses in his care which he “returns” at the end of the month indicating which horses have or have not used the gallops. Owners are then charged accordingly.
All the facilities on the Heath are included in this charge with the exception of four “special” gallops - the Golden Mile Trial Ground and the Round Gallop (both peat moss) on the Limekilns, Water Hall Special Gallop (also on Bury Side) and the Watered Gallop (which is irrigated) on Racecourse Side. These special gallops are charged on a per gallop basis.
Visiting trainers and permit holders based outside Newmarket (known as Casual Trainers) pay on a per visit basis. Their use of the facilities is restricted to the Links and the Cambridge Road Polytrack only. Daily charges are known as Links Tax.
Charges are reviewed annually on 1 January following consultation with the Heath Committee. The Charges for 2012 are as follows:
Heath Tax (Flat and NH) £107.32 + VAT per horse per month (this includes a contribution to the Newmarket Equine Disposal Scheme)
Links Tax £29.17 + VAT per horse per visit
Special Gallops (Newmarket Trainers) £20.83 + VAT per horse per gallop