A major international racing operation is planning more investment in an historic Newmarket training yard.
Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing is looking to build a new 23-box yard and equine swimming pool at its Freemason Lodge base, in Bury Road.
The company bought Sir Michael Stoute’s former base in January last year for a reported £5.3million and since taking over the yard has installed Kevin Philippart de Foy as trainer and embarked on significant refurbishment work.
Kia Joorabchian whose Amo Racing organisation is planning more investment at his Newmarket training yard
The current planning application has been submitted to West Suffolk Council and will be considered by members of Newmarket Town Council’s planning committee when they meet tomorrow.
Freemason Lodge is in Newmarket’s conservation area with the main stable building, dating from 1895.
Prior to Sir Michael Stoute it was home to Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort from 1923 and 1968.
He had bought the yard with a £6,000 loan and trained 13 Classic winners there including 1959 Derby winner Parthia.
The new boxes would see the yard’s capacity increase from the current 98 to a total of 121 boxes.
“This means the training facility gains an advantage economically through costs and greater income,” said the design statement submitted with the planning application.
“This in turn will increase the current staff numbers from 30 to 45 which supports the local economy as an employer and local businesses.”
The yard already has a circular equine pool, which is in the centre of the covered trotting ring, but according to planning documents this is now obsolete due to its size and shape and will be filled in.
The proposed new facility will be a 50 metre straight pool which will be set away from the yard’s historic buildings on the edge of the site.