A historic horse training yard is to be marketed to potential buyers in the summer, with a strong preference that it should remain in the racing industry.

Downs House, in Epsom, was once home to Eclipse, a thoroughbred from whom 95 per cent of today’s bloodstock is descended.

It is owned by Epsom and Ewell Council, which took back control of the house last July after deciding not to renew the lease of its last trainer, Philip Mitchell, in 2007, whose family had been training racehorses there for 48 years.

The council is now looking to market the house to a new buyer or leaseholder.

At a meeting of its strategy and resources committee on Tuesday evening, which was closed to the public, councillors approved the appointment of agent Bidwells, a horseracing and equestrian specialist, to market the house on the council’s behalf.

Frances Rutter, the council’s chief executive, said: "Downs House has been on the radar for some while and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes.

"The strategy and resources committee met last year where it was decided to start marketing the house and the council got approval to go out to tender for agents to do that.

"Last night’s meeting confirmed the appointment of Bidwells and the council has instructed it to start marketing Downs House.

"This is expected to be launched at the Derby Festival when individuals from the industry will be present and Downs House will literally be in view across the Downs."

Asked about the marketing strategy Ms Rutter said: "We are open to suggestions, but there is a very strong preference among members that it should remain in use for the racing training industry, which is good. 

"Whether the freehold or leasehold is sold will depend on the market and what people are willing to pay for it."

Following Mr Mitchell’s eviction last year, Epsom’s equestrians started a petition, led by Caroline Baldock, chairman of the Epsom Equestrian Conservation Group, to save Downs House from any change of use.