HEXHAM’s biggest claim to fame on the national stage, the racecourse at High Yarridge, has been sold.

But the new owners have promised there will be no sweeping changes at the picturesque course, recognised as one of the most scenic in the country.

For the course and its associated caravan park have been bought by Hexham and Northern Marts, another local company which like the racecourse has a history stretching back more than 100 years.

And the mart has promised it will be business as usual at High Yarridge, with racegoers unlikely to notice any changes at the popular course.

A spokesman for the mart said: “We want to achieve a completely smooth transition in the running of the racecourse, and we are sure than can be achieved.

“All the present staff will remain in their positions, and there will be no real changes.”

The deal was concluded this week for an undisclosed sum, leaving racecourse chief executive Charles Enderby with mixed feelings, for it was his great grandfather Charles William Chipchase Henderson who established the racecourse company in 1890.

The course celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, but Charles is satisfied its future is in safe hands. He said: “I am 76 now, and looking to slow down a bit.

“My two daughters both live in the South, with good jobs and careers, so when the mart approached me with an offer for the company, it seemed a good time to move on.”

The deal is being financed by the sale of the large plot of mart-owned land on the Corbridge road at Craneshaugh for a major housing development.

The mart’s primestock manager Robert Whitelock said this week: “With cash available from the sale of the land, we were keen to invest locally. We see the racecourse, farm land at caravan park at High Yarridge not only fitting our criteria, but also providing benefit to the local economy and community, as well as offering benefit to the company through its main business of livestock auctioneering.

“It is a good form of diversification for the company, which will be beneficial for all concerned.”

The history of the two companies has been entwined for generations, with present racecourse owner Charles Enderby’s father Sam having served as vice-chairman of the mart for many years, and present mart chairman Jimmy Walton’s father Frank sitting on the board of directors of the Hexham Steeplechase Company for a similar period.

Jimmy Walton himself was one of the top amateur riders in the North from the mid 1960’s until hanging up his boots a decade ago and is now a successful racehorse trainer and breeder alongside all of his farming interests.

He partnered 85 point-to-point winners as well as 129 under Rules, and is no stranger to the winner’s enclose at Hexham.

The formal takeover came on Monday of this week, with Mr Enderby keeping a paternal eye on the family business in his new role as a consultant.

While the racecourse was founded by his great grandfather, the Enderby family link with the racecourse was broken for a number of years, while Charles was serving in the army, and as a member of the Queen’s ceremonial bodyguard.

It was only when he retired from the army in 1986 that he became involved with the racecourse again, under the patronage of then chief executive Kit Patterson, before being made managing director in 1991.

He masterminded the development of the course, with more than £500,000 spent on major improvements in the past decade.

He said: “I like to think that Hexham now has a very good reputation in the racing world, and in our groundsman Mark Cameron, we have one of the best in the entire industry.

“The racecourse is in safe hands.”

HEXHAM's biggest claim to fame on the national stage, the racecourse at High Yarridge, has been sold.

But the new owners have promised there will be no sweeping changes at the picturesque course, recognised as one of the most scenic in the country.

For the course and its associated caravan park have been bought by Hexham and Northern Marts, another local company which like the racecourse has a history stretching back more than 100 years.

And the mart has promised it will be business as usual at High Yarridge, with racegoers unlikely to notice any changes at the popular course.

A spokesman for the mart said: “We want to achieve a completely smooth transition in the running of the racecourse, and we are sure than can be achieved.

“All the present staff will remain in their positions, and there will be no real changes.”

The deal was concluded this week for an undisclosed sum, leaving racecourse chief executive Charles Enderby with mixed feelings, for it was his great grandfather Charles William Chipchase Henderson who established the racecourse company in 1890.

The course celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, but Charles is satisfied its future is in safe hands. He said: ”I am 76 now, and looking to slow down a bit.

“My two daughters both live in the South, with good jobs and careers, so when the mart approached me with an offer for the company, it seemed a good time to move on.”

The deal is being financed by the sale of the large plot of mart-owned land on the Corbridge road at Craneshaugh for a major housing development.

The mart‘s primestock manager Robert Whitelock said this week: “ With cash available from the sale of the land, we were keen to invest locally. ”We see the racecourse, farm land at caravan park at High Yarridge not only fitting our criteria, but also providing benefit to the local economy and community, as well as offering benefit to the company through its main business of livestock auctioneering.

“It is a good form of diversification for the company, which  will be beneficial for all concerned.”

The history of the two companies has been entwined for generations, with present racecourse owner Charles Enderby‘s father Sam having served as vice-chairman of the mart for many years, and present mart chairman Jimmy Walton’s father Frank sitting on the board of directors of the Hexham Steeplechase Company for a similar period.

Jimmy Walton himself was one of the top amateur riders in the North from the mid 1960's until hanging up his boots a decade ago and is now a successful racehorse trainer and breeder alongside all of his farming interests. 

He partnered 85 point-to-point winners as well as 129 under Rules, and is no stranger to the winner‘s enclose at Hexham.

The formal takeover came on Monday of this week, with Mr Enderby keeping a paternal eye on the family business in his new role as a consultant.

While the racecourse was founded by his great grandfather, the Enderby family link with the racecourse was broken for a number of years, while Charles  was serving in the army, and as a member of the Queen’s ceremonial bodyguard.

It was only when he retired from the army in 1986 that he  became involved with the racecourse again, under the patronage of then chief executive Kit Patterson, before being made managing director in 1991.

Since then, he has become one of the most recognisable figures in the racing world, taking on many roles, including clerk of the course.

He has masterminded the development of the course, where more £500,000 has been spent on major improvements in the  past decade.

He said: “I like to think that Hexham now has a very good reputation in the racing world, and in our groundsman Mark Cameron, we have one of the best in the entire industry.

“The racecourse is in safe hands,”