Celebrated every year since 1977, International Museum Day has become a popular global event on and around May 18. Highlighting the importance of museums in the development of societies and cultures, International Museum Day currently combines over 36,000 museums in some 150 countries.

We are extremely proud to have a National museum right here in Newmarket, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art at Palace House. In light of International Museum Day’s 2018 theme, “Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics”, visitors can experience interactive activities with the museum’s multimedia audio guide,  as well as interactive screens across the Heritage Centre that help visitors better understand the anatomy of a horse, as well as how thoroughbred bloodstock breeding works. 

Find out more about the attraction:

What is Palace House (The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art)?

Opened by Her Majesty The Queen on the 3^rd November 2016, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art is a cutting-edge facility that offers visitors the chance immerse themselves in the fascinating history of Newmarket and the Sport of Kings.

Take a journey through history with state-of-the-art interactive displays and regular temporary exhibitions at the National Horseracing Museum, along with a collection of some of the finest sporting art in the world at the Fred Packard Galleries.

Visitors can also put some of this theory into practice by visiting the Rothschild Yard, the flagship home of the Retraining of Racehorses charity, where they can meet retired equine stars in the flesh.

Latest Attractions at Palace House:

F A S C I N A T I N G   F A L C O N R Y  –  M U S E U M S   A T   N I G H T 

19th May I  7.00pm – 9.00pm  £5

Join us after hours on the 19th May for this special Museums at Night event. Find out why hawks are so important in the royal history of Newmarket and meet the majestic birds themselves in the historic Rothschild Yard. Take part in our colouring and craft activity, and take your creation home with you to remind you of your fascinating visit. 

J A M E S   W A R D ,   A N I M A L   P A I N T E R

4th May – 28th October 2018

The exhibition explores special characteristics of Ward’s works, including his focus on the emotional drama of his subject. The chronological development of Ward’s works is considered with an examination of the changes that occurred during this life with the progression from engraving to painting. In particular, the effect of Ward’s election to the Royal Academy of Art in 1811, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year and his appointment as painter and engraver to the Prince of Wales. The exhibition also explores how particular animals informed his artistic approach, now recognised as Romantic.

TAKE A LOOK: FROM HORSE HOOF TO INKWELL

28^th February – 1st June

To celebrate The Civilisation Festival an exhibition is on display to highlight a type of object which now divides opinion. Fifteen Victorian and twentieth-century horses’ hooves will be on display in the Atrium of the National Heritage Centre at Palace House Newmarket. These hooves once belonged to famous racehorses, and were lovingly converted into decorative art objects such as inkwells and candlesticks. This special display will look to pose the questions; how do we feel about this now? Is it art? What does it tell us about how society has changed since then?

Buy tickets to visit Palace House, here.