Facilities at Grandstand Stables

Location

Grandstand Stables is set on the top of the South Downs in East Sussex. It therefore has very good links to a lot of racecourses in the south, including Brighton, Plumpton, Fontwell and Goodwood. It is within easy reach of London and the M25.

Exercise

We have a private ten-furlong grass gallop, and in 2009 we added a one-mile all-weather gallop (pictured). 1966 Derby winner Charlottown, trained by Gordon Smyth and ridden by Scobie Breasley, was trained on the private gallops now owned by the Best family.

This ten-furlong Downs gallop is a great test for today's thoroughbred. The gallop ensures that all horses are prepared to go to the races in peak condition.

Importantly, the South Downs also have naturally-occurring exercise grounds, and the undulating terrain gets horses fit whilst giving them a change of scenery and thus keeping them happy in their work. The daily routine of exercise takes in fitness work across this part of the South Downs.

Schooling

The schooling grounds are a variety of newly-built hurdles and chase fences, which incorporate baby fences to help to school young horses just setting out on their National Hunt careers. A horsewalker and a loose schooling ring are extra facilities used in preparing horses for training and schooling young horses over obstacles for the first time.

Care

All the stables at Grandstand Stables are internal boxes (12' x 12'), in two barns. The horses can see each other, and there is plenty of natural light and ventilation. Dust-free paper bedding is used, to alleviate any breathing problems and promote hygiene. Good feeding is essential for racing performance, and shows in the healthy look of the coats of the horses in our care.