National Heritage Centre bids to become museum of the year

Racing fans have just days left to help the new National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art become Britain's museum of the year.

The complex, home to the National Horseracing Museum, is one of five museums selected as a finalist for the Art Fund Museum Of The Year 2017. It is the first sporting museum to receive a nomination.

The shortlisted museums are: The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art, Newmarket; The Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham; Sir John Soane’s Museum, London; Tate Modern, London; and The Hepworth Wakefield.

Frankel stands tall at The King's YardCredit: Marc Atkins

The winning museum will receive £100,000 and will be announced during a ceremony at the British Museum on Wednesday, July 5. In addition, the other shortlisted museums will also be better off to the tune of £10,000 each in recognition of their achievements.

Visitors can help the racing museum's cause by sharing their stories, reviews, photos, memories and moments on social media via or Instagram, including the hashtag #museumoftheyear. Stories can also be sent via email to ami.cosgrave@nhrm.co.uk.

In a move to raise awareness of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art’s nomination as a finalist for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017, Sheikh Fahad Al Thani has also agreed to lease the Ralph Beckett-trained Diamonds Pour Moi to the ‘Art Fund Museum of the Year Finalists 17’ for her appearance in the televised Listed Betway Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Live horses at close quartersCredit: Marc Atkins

Chris Garibaldi, Director of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art, said: “We are extremely grateful to Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and Ralph Beckett for allowing us to lease Diamonds Pour Moi for this exciting race at Newmarket on Saturday.

"The idea is for all the 2017 Art Fund Museum of the Year finalists to be able to enjoy and celebrate being on the shortlist and experience the thrill of our amazing sport of horseracing. It shows the unique cultural territory that the National Heritage Centre at Palace House in Newmarket occupies, connecting as it does the worlds of sport, science and the arts."