Whilst no records exist as to the exact origins of South Hatch as a racing establishment, the stable has been renowned for training for hundreds of years. In his book 'Riding Recollections and Turf Stories', the celebrated jockey H Custance mentioned that he lived at South Hatch in about 1856 when a Mr Ned Smith was training nearly 40 horses.
Many famous race horses have been stabled at South Hatch. Caractacus stayed here prior to winning the Derby in 1862. The main history and success of South Hatch is attributable to to its occupancy of by the Nightingall family in 1860 when Arthur Nightingall commenced training. The position of South Hatch allowed easy access to the downs through the paddock at the back of the house. Early training successes came from Arthur's string of good-class jumpers, the most notable being Shifnal who won the Grand National at the second time of asking.
William (Willie) Nightingall was born at South Hatch and after winning his first steeplechase at Croydon on November 27, 1883, ran up a sequence of successes in top-class steeplechases. He succeeded his father in training on Arthur's death in 1891. Willie sent out 67 winners in 1894 and 1895 and was in charge of a number of useful horses.
The riding career of Walter Nightingall, Willie's son, was abruptly terminated in 1909 after a serious fall at Windsor. However, after taking up training on the death of his father in 1926, started the long and successful association of South Hatch and flat-racing.
Early successes included the Great Metropolitan Handicap, the Irish derby and the Gold Vase. From 1937 to 1947 he trained for the eccentric and prodigious spender, Miss Dorothy Paget. It was Walter's success with Straight Deal in the 1943 Derby which gave Miss Paget her only classic success in 30 years of flat-racing, although she had enormous success in other major races and notably with the jumper Golden Miller. Miss Paget was a demanding owner who would ring trainers in the middle of the night if it suited her. This led Walter to rebel, threatening to turn her horses loose in Epsom High Street if they were not removed within 24 hours.
In 1949 a long and fruitful association with Sir Winston Churchill began. Ironically, Sir Winston's first horse, Colonist II, was the most successful, winning 13 races including the valuable Jockey Club Cup, the Winston Churchill stakes and Royal Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes. He was also placed twice in the prestigious Ascot Gold Cup. Like his illustrious owner, he displayed enormous courage and determination and on retiring became a successful sire. A letter from Sir Winston, on his retirement from racing is on display in the foyer of South Hatch.
Other notable successes included the 1965 2000 Guineas with Wilfred Harvey's Niksar, the 1966 Coronation Cup with Mr Louis Freedman's I Say and the 1967 City and Suburban Handicap with Mr Angus Kennedy's Hotroy.
After the death of Walter Nightingall in 1968, South Hatch was sold to the legendary Australian Jockey, Arthur 'Scobie' Breasley.
In 1984, the present owner, Mrs Heather Pitt, took over South Hatch and converted it into a restaurant and conference facilities. Heather has had a long association with racing and the tradition is continued with the racing memorabilia displayed throughout the building
The first recorded history of Epsom dates to the earliest Saxon period when it was known as Ebbisham, Ebesham or Epsham. The name derives from the presence of a spring in the chalk hills known as the earthbourn from whence the princess Ebba, in time to become the wife of the first Saxon Christian King, received her baptismal title in AD 660. Epsom is also found in the Domesday book as Ebesham, here derived from the Saxon words 'Ebbe' (to flow back) and 'ham' (a village).
At the time of the Norman Conquest, Epsom was the property of the Monastery of Chertsey. Apart from a short period during the reign of Henry VIII, it remained among the Crown lands until 1597 when Elizabeth I gave it to Edward Darcy, a headstrong and wilful man, who as a result of gambling was forced to sell it to George Mynn of Lincolns inn. It was from that period until well into the 19th Century that the Manor of Epsom came into the ownership of a number of families who had considerable influence on the development of the area.
The year 1618 proved seminal in Epsom's history. It was an exceptionally dry summer and a herdsman noticed that cattle would not drink from a particular watering hole. The water was found to be heavily mineralised with Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts). Epsom became a spa town, ultimately surpassing Tunbridge Wells and Epsom Salts became famous throughout the world for their effects, Victorian travellers rarely embarking on their journeys without a supply.
Horse racing had taken place on the downs (known then as Banstead Downs) from the time of James I who sojourned at the nearby Nonsuch Palace but the combination of racing with the spa led to Epsom's fame and popularity. It became fashionable to idle away the days in Epsom following the sports of hawking, boxing and horse racing.
At this time, Epsom developed from a village to a thriving town, aided by the royal patronage of Charles II, a tradition continued by the present Royal family.
To the vast majority, Epsom is synonymous with the Epsom Derby. The Derby was born as a result of the toss of a coin between the Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury and has become the Blue Riband of the turf. It has thrown up a plethora of intriguing and at times tragic anecdotes. Stories abound of scandal, betting coups, of estates, manors and titles being won and lost. The skill and courage of trainers and riders still echo down the centuries. The feats of characters like John Bowes, Sir Charles Bunbury, Jem Robinson, Archer and Donoghue are perpetuated and continued by modern day contempories such as Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott.