Horses and Stables
One of the main attractions of Middleham are the many racehorses and stables based around the town. Middleham has a rich history in the training of racehorses.
Middleham is the northern centre for race-horse training. there are five training stables in Middleham town and eight more on the outskirts.
Visitors awake to the clip-clop of horseshoes walking from the surrounding stables to the gallops on Middleham moor. Throughout the morning the spectacle of thoroughbreds exercising on Middleham Moors, considered to be one of the best training grounds in the country, is something never to be forgotten. A stable visit can often be arranged.
Isaac Cape is noted as being the first jockey back in 1733, he eventually became the first specialist racehorse trainer in the area. Racing on the high moor then started in 1739 and continued until 1873 when disputes between trainers and landowners saw the last race in June that year.
More recently Captain Neville Crump, who died in 1997 aged 86 trained three grand national winners at his Warwick House Stables, as well as five Scottish and two welsh winners.
The Warwich House Stables are now part of Mark Johnson Racing and continue to turn out winning horses.
Every day of the year, rain shine or snow a parade of horses fill the streets of Middleham on their way to the gallops for their daily exercise. This is a wonderful sight that has to be seen to be believed.
As well as the local equestrian attractions, there are also several race courses all within a one hour drive of Middleham including:
- Ripon Racecourse
- Catterick Racecourse
- Sedgefield Racecourse
- Thirsk Racecourse
- York Racecourse
- Wetherby Racecourse
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