Time & Motion: Capturing the Lifeblood of a Racing Yard is the first opportunity to see an exclusive collection of stunning black and white photographs by Jayne Odell FRPS.
The Time & Motion exhibition runs from 9th July until 4th December 2022, and captures the lifeblood of a racing yard in Jayne’s first exhibition at the National Horseracing Museum.
Throughout this collection of photographs, Jayne has captured the atmosphere and emotion of moments rarely seen by those outside racing, showing the talent, dedication and diversity of those working ‘behind-the-scenes’ in racing. Beautiful images of thoroughbred racehorses in training, as well as the landscape and kinfolk of Newmarket are the centrepiece of this debut show.
The National Horseracing Museum is honoured to have the opportunity to exhibit Jayne’s work in the Moller Gallery. All the photographs featured in the exhibition will be auctioned in aid of the Injured Jockey’s Fund and Racing Welfare in December.
Jayne Odell developed a passion for equine photography after moving to Newmarket in 2016 and became a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 2020 and is now an Assessment Panel Member. Her work conveys the unique rhythm of a town devoted to horseracing and shows a careful consideration of balance and composition.
The rhythm of daily life in Newmarket has been dominated by the needs of racehorses for more than 200 years. Thoroughbreds are the timekeepers for the town and these images show the motion of a busy yard as it runs ‘like clockwork’.
Jayne’s photographs capture the dedication of stable staff, who continue to work in all seasons, weather and circumstances, including a pandemic, to keep their charges cared for and exercised.
Like many professions involving animals, working in racing is a way of life rather than just a job. From the racecourse valets dressing jockeys to the farriers shoeing horses, tradition and innovation, skills and talent all combine to ensure horses and humans are properly looked after and equipped. Hard physical work, long days, holidays on rotation and working in all weathers are all part of the lifestyle. Here, Jayne has captured moments of hard-won pride in a job well-done and a life well-chosen.
Special thanks goes to Charlie Fellowes Racing, Heath House Stables, Gibson Saddlers and James Coburn Farriers, all of whom welcomed Jayne into their operations and allowed her to capture insights and moments that really tell the story of what it means to work in horseracing.
Entrance to the exhibition is included in general admission, giving you access to all areas including the National Horseracing Museum, Palace House, and the Rothschild Yard where you can meet retired racehorses.
