Beyond the well-known racehorse training areas of Malton, Newmarket and Lambourn an increasing number of racehorse trainers are operating very successfully from standalone yards throughout the UK.

The main attractions of having all of the necessary training facilities in a ring fence include:

• Having your own gallops rather than using a shared facility gives much more flexibility when arranging the timings for riding out. While there may not be the miles on offer at a shared facility such as Newmarket Heath, not having to stick to the strict timetable, pay annual fees and deal with the associated administration suits many trainers.
• Disease is one of the biggest issues for any livestock business and racehorse training is no exception. Managing the risks of contagion is far easier in isolated yards. Individual trainers may have rigorous in-house bio-security measures in place where a number of yards are in close proximity, but the risk of cross-contamination is much higher.
• For trainers with high-profile owners, it is much easier to maintain their privacy at an individual yard. The ability to host owners away from the public eye and to provide them with uninterrupted viewing of their horses working is often an attraction.
• There can be financial benefits too. The premier yards located around the training centres command quite a premium, irrespective of whether they are for sale or rent. For trainers who are prepared to be based further afield, there is scope to operate out of a larger yard for a fraction of the cost.