A mystery buyer has pulled out of a deal to purchase an "incomparable" historic house and stables right next to Epsom Downs Racecourse.
The late 18th Century listed, five bedroom Downs House, on Epsom Downs, has 10.6 acres of grass and woodland, a barn, bothy, training yard and 43 horse boxes all within a few hundred yards of the start of the world's premier flat race.
It was once home to Eclipse, a thoroughbred from whom 95 per cent of today’s bloodstock is believed to have been descended.
Epsom Council took back control of the run-down property in July 2012 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.
After deliberating what to do with it for months, it appointed horseracing and equestrian specialist Bidwells to sell it - though it said it would also consider letting it on a 125 year lease - preferably to someone in the racing industry - with a guide price of £1.1m.
Downs House is a late 18th Century, listed building, in Epsom Downs
Last summer it was announced that a potential purchaser, whose identity was never revealed, had been found.
But a spokesman for the council revealed today that, despite extensive negotiations with the council, they have withdrawn their offer.
He said: "The council has received confirmation that the prospective purchaser of Downs House has withdrawn from the purchase.
"Naturally we are disappointed, and we will be reviewing all our options before deciding how to proceed."
The amount of money the potential buyer had offered was also never revealed.
A spokeswoman for Bidwells said she was not able to give any further details today.
The Mitchells were evicted from Downs House in 2012
Bidwell's sales literature describes Downs House as "an incomparable property full of racing history" and "the best seat in the house" in "a truly enviable position".
Epsom equestrian Caroline Baldock said: "£1.1m is far too much money. You can't expect someone to pay a lot of money for a property that needs a lot of money to be spent on it.
"The price needs to go down by £250,000. It needs to be a reasonable price to put the millions into the work it needs."
Following Mr Mitchell’s eviction, Epsom’s equestrians started a petition, led by Ms Baldock, to save Downs House from any change of use.
Caroline Baldock started a petition to save Downs House from any change of use
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