A hotel welcomed an unexpected guest when a racehorse who cost 375,000 guineas wandered into the reception area.
CCTV showed three-year-old colt Windbreaker, a son of 2009 Derby hero Sea The Stars, in the lobby of the Heath Court Hotel in Newmarket.
The incident happened at the three-star hotel – a stone’s throw from the town’s famous Clock Tower – on Thursday morning at 8.30am.
Irish-based jockey Shane Foley, the No.1 rider to Chinese owners Forz Europe Ltd, had travelled to Britain to partner the colt on the gallops for multiple Classic-winning trainer William Haggas.
But the partnership was broken when Windbreaker spooked at a lorry and got loose.
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“Shane Foley had a ride for the owners on Saturday and he came over a couple of days earlier,” explained Haggas, based at Newmarket’s historic Somerville Lodge Stables.
“A lorry went up the Moulton Road as they were walking down for a second canter, the horse spun round and he fell off.
“The horse got loose and he ended up in the lobby of the Heath Court. The main thing is that the horse is OK and Shane is OK.”
Windbreaker has two career starts for Haggas – making his debut in December at Kempton when he showed promise to finish fifth.
Seventeen days later he ran again at Chelmsford where he finished fourth of nine.
He cost his current owners 375,000 guineas at the Tattersalls yearling sales in November 2024.
There are about 3,000 horses in training in Newmarket, which has its first fixtures of the 2026 Flat season – the Craven meeting – in April.
The Heath Court Hotel is owned by Saeed Suhail, owner of Derby winners Kris Kin and Desert Crown.
It is located near Sir Mark Prescott’s Heath House Stables on Moulton Road and is close to the Warren Hill gallops, Newmarket’s main training area.
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