Equine centre for Newmarket pitched to Coe

A state-of-the-art horse hospital, stabling and training areas could soon be coming to East Anglia if plans for a new 2012 equestrian centre are approved.

A private consortium of vets, businesses and local equestrian groups will pitch their multi-million pound development plan to Games chief Lord Coe as part of his visit to the region next month.

The plans, revealed on Thursday, will extend the pre-approved Equine Hospital at Stetchworth Estate to include training facilities for showjumpers and eventers, stables for up to 150 horses and accommodation for grooms and support teams.

Equine surgeon Ian Wright, from Newmarket-based vets Greenwood, Ellis and partners, told the Newmarket Journal: “Thanks to the Stetchworth Estate we believe we have identified land on which such a development would be possible.

“We are convinced that there would be terrific benefits to the whole community”, he added.

It is hoped the 100 acre site will act as a reception centre for horses and competitors before they travel to the official competition venue at London’s Greenwich Park.

Director of Cambridge and Newmarket Polo Club, Larry Le Ggatt, thinks there is no better place for the centre; “Newmarket is already the home of horseracing and we have excellent road links with Stansted Airport and a nice straight road to Greenwich.”

A spokeswomen from London 2012 confirmed the consortium’s bid would be considered by the organization committee in due course, but at present no plans were in place to use the site as a training venue.