Turf legends feature in pavement project
Newmarket’s reputation as the world headquarters of thoroughbred racing and breeding could soon be cemented in the town’s pavements.
The names that over the centuries have seen the town recognised throughout the world as the Home of Horseracing are set to appear on specially made paving slabs that will be laid in the town centre forming a Legends of the Turf trail.
A group of councillors, residents and representatives of the racing industry have been working on the project for some months and on Monday it was formally adopted by the town council’s leisure services committee, which agreed to set up a working group to bring it to fruition.
Town clerk Isabelle Barrett told members the council had earmarked £1,500 to help with costs.
The idea is based on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and thanks to a donation by Newmarket county councillor Lisa Chambers, a member of the original planning group, the name of the Newmarket scheme, Legends of the Turf, is now a registered trademark.
The aim is to produce a booklet to go with the walk explaining the significance to racing of the names which appear on the paving stones.
It is estimated the project will cost in the region of £100,000 and will take five years to complete, with 10 stones planned for the first year. The group is making an application to the Lottery Heritage Fund for funding. The design of the stones will be agreed in consultation with council highways experts and heritage advisors and a route planned.
A specially constituted selection panel will come up with names to be featured and will look at trainers, jockeys, racehorses and others who have made a significant contribution to the racing industry. Its members will decide on most of the names but readers of the Journal will have the chance to be part of the process at a later stage.
Cllr Keith Bovill, a member of the original planning group, said: “Much of the work on the project has already been done, the next thing is to apply for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund which we hope will be our main source of income.”
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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