Frankie Dettori – Born 1970
The most successful and popular jockey of the current era, Lanfranco Dettori has been Newmarket-based since since arriving from Italy to begin his apprenticeship with his compatriot Luca Cumani in Bedford House Stables in the Bury Road in 1985. His remarkable worldwide tally of big-race success includes the Derby victories of Authorized in 2007 and Golden Horn in 2015 – both trained in Newmarket, by Peter Chapple-Hyam and John Gosden respectively- and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe triumphs of Lammtarra, Sakhee and Marienbard (all trained in Newmarket by Saeed bin Suroor) and Golden Horn and Enable (both trained in Newmarket by John Gosden).
Nat Flatman – 1810 to 1860
Suffolk-born and –bred, Elnathan Flatman topped to jockeys’ table in the first season in which a list of leading riders was published (1846) and then remained champion jockey for the next six years. He rode the winners of the 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas and St. Leger three times each, and also took the 1844 Derby when his mount Orlando, having finished second, was promoted on the disqualification of Running Rein. His career was ended by a bad fall in 1959 and he died the following year. He is buried beneath the tower in All Saints’ Church and his gravestone can be seen in the churchyard.
Sir Noel Murless – 1910 to 1987
England’s leading trainer of the post-war era, Noel Murless (who was knighted by the Queen in June 1977) trained initially in Yorkshire and then in Wiltshire before moving in 1952 to Newmarket, where he took over Warren Place at the top of Long Hill. He was champion trainer eight times between 1957 and 1973 when his champions included the Derby winners Crepello, St Paddy and Royal Palace. He retired at the end of the 1976 season, when he handed over the reins of Warren Place to his son-in-law Henry Cecil, who was married to his daughter Julie.
Pretty Polly
Chestnut filly by Gallinule ex Admiration, by Saraband – 1901 to 1931
Arguably both the greatest filly and the most influential broodmare of the 20th century, Pretty Polly was trained for her breeder Major Eustace Loder by Peter Gilpin in Clarehaven in the Bury Road, from where she won 22 races including the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, St. Leger, Coronation Cup, Champion Stakes and Jockey Club Cup. The latest of the many Classic winners to descend from her are the 2015 Oaks victrix Qualify and the 2017 Derby winner Wings Of Eagles, while others have included Brigadier Gerard and the Derby winners Psidium, St Paddy and Workforce.
Admiral Henry Rous – 1795 to 1877
Henry Rous enjoyed a successful career in the Royal Navy, including exploring the Northern Rivers coastline of New South Wales in 1828 when he named the Richmond River in honour of the Duke of Richmond. His career in the Navy ended in controversy in 1836, but his subsequent exploits in the racing world were indisputable, as he became ‘a sort of perpetual president’ of the Jockey Club. His many improvements to the sport included establishing the modern principals of handicapping which still hold true today. The Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing in 1978 stated that “It is true that racing in this country has never had a better friend”, while the esteem in which his peers held him is shown by the fact that he continued to be promoted after leaving the Navy: he was merely a Captain when he left the senior service, but ended up becoming an Admiral in 1863.
Shergar
Bay colt by Great Nephew ex Sharmeen, by Val De Loir – 1978 to 1983
One of the most impressive Derby winners in history, Shergar strolled home in the Blue Riband in 1981, winning eased down by 10 lengths under Walter Swinburn for Bury Road trainer Michael Stoute. Easy victories in the Irish Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes followed, but his end was tragic. He was kidnapped by the IRA after only one season at his owner/breeder HH The Aga Khan’s Ballymany Stud in Ireland, and his fate remains a mystery. It is presumed that he died within days.