Chelmsford City Racecourse

Last updated

Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City Racecourse Logo Green.png
Chelmsford City Racecourse Grounds.jpg
Location Great Leighs, Essex
Owned by Betfred
Date opened11 January 2015
Screened on Racing TV
Course type Flat Polytrack
Official website

Chelmsford City racecourse, originally known as Great Leighs Racecourse, is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Great Leighs near Braintree, Essex, England.

Contents

The racecourse is Essex’s only racecourse, one of just six All-Weather surfaces in the UK and one of five which is fully floodlit. It is one of the UK’s busiest racecourses having previously staged more 60 meetings per year. The course is only 50 miles (80 kilometres) from Newmarket, the largest racehorse training centre in Britain. The course is laid out as an 8.5- furlong (1,700-metre) left-handed Polytrack oval, with a 2-furlong (400-metre) home straight.

Opening

Great Leighs racecourse was originally scheduled to open in October 2006, but the opening was deferred several times. On 20 March 2008, the racecourse announced that the opening fixture would be postponed to 20 April 2008, with the original opening date, 4 April 2008, being used a test day. [1]

Eventually, on 20 April 2008, the racecourse staged its first race meeting before an invited audience, with the opening race being won by Temple of Thebes. The first meeting with full public admission took place on 28 May 2008. [2] The venue attracted some praise for some of its racing facilities but considerable criticism for the incomplete state of its visitor facilities. Attendances failed to meet expectations. The 10,000-capacity grandstand was used at the 2006 Ryder Cup.

Closure and suspension of racing

The course was placed into administration and its temporary racing licence revoked on 16 January 2009. [3] In March 2009, the administrators announced that the two parties that had made bids for the course had failed to demonstrate that they had sufficient financial backing. The administrators stated that they would enter into negotiations with the main creditor, the Royal Bank of Scotland, to see whether it was willing to take ownership of the course, and contract out the management of its operations to an established racecourse operator. [4]

The administrators subsequently made a deal with a local businessman, Terry Chambers, to lease the course to him for 18 months, but the course was unable to obtain a racing licence and was, therefore, ineligible to bid for fixtures for 2010. [5] In September 2009, the administrators announced that they had struck a deal for Chambers and Bill Gredley to buy the racecourse with the hope that racing could resume in 2011, [6] but the deal fell through. In June 2010 the administrators announced that they had given up hope of selling the business as a going concern and had started discussions with the Royal Bank of Scotland to find an alternative use for the site. [7]

In March 2011 it was reported that Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of Eddie Stobart Ltd, was in discussions with Royal Bank of Scotland about reopening the track as a racecourse. [8]

The course was bought by MC Racetracks in November 2011, but in May 2012 the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) rejected a bid to host fixtures at Great Leighs in 2013 but said that the owners were "welcome to submit an application to be part of the 2014 fixture list". [9] In January 2013 MC Racetracks announced that they would submit an application to the BHA to hold racing at the course in 2014 [10] but in June 2013, the BHA announced that it had rejected the application for 2014 fixtures. [11]

Late in 2013, it was reported [12] that a syndicate headed by Betfred's proprietor, Fred Done, had bought the track and was, as 'Chelmsford City Racecourse', to seek BHA approval for 2015 fixtures. In April 2014, the BHA announced that Great Leighs could apply to host fixtures in 2015 but without a guarantee of an expansion of all-weather fixtures. [13]

Reopening

The BHA announced, in July 2014, that the course would be allocated 12 fixtures for racing in 2015, [14] a figure subsequently increased to 58 meetings when the 2015 fixture list was published. The BHA announced that the course would stage its reopening meeting on 11 January 2015. [15]

The course reopened for racing on 11 January 2015, with an invited crowd of 800 people present, with the full public reopening taking place on 22 January 2015. [16] The first race was won by a short head by Tryster, trained by Charlie Appleby. On 27 December 2015, racing from Chelmsford City appeared on Channel 4 Racing for the first time following waterlogging at Chepstow and the abandonment of the Welsh Grand National.

Chelmsford City Racecourse’s first Listed race which was created in 2018. The Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes, open to fillies and mares aged four years or older is run over a distance of 7 furlongs and was the UK's most valuable Listed race in 2022 and 2023 with a value of £100,000.

A second Listed race was created in 2019, the Chelmer Fillies' Stakes, open to fillies aged three years. It is run over a distance of 6 furlongs  in late April or early May.

In addition to these Listed races, the Cardinal Stakes over a distance of 1 mile and open to three-year-old horses is a feature. The race was run for the first time in 2019 as the finale of seven races in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series and carrying a purse of £100,000 as well as earning points and the chance to qualify for the Kentucky Derby.

The racecourse has attracted notable European Classic winners including Billesdon Brook, Covert Love and Star Catcher as well as a multitude of international Group 1 winners.

Music events

The racecourse has become an established music and entertainment venue having held open-air concerts for music acts Madness, Simply Red, UB40, Rick Astley and Boyzone. It has also held dance music festivals that have featured Erick Morillo, Bob Sinclar, Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden and more.

Future developments

In January 2017 Chelmsford City announced plans to build a casino and develop a new turf course inside the existing all-weather track. [17]

Notable races

MonthDOWRace NameTypeGradeDistanceAge/Sex
AprilThursday Cardinal Stakes FlatConditions1m3yo
MayThursday Chelmer Fillies' Stakes FlatListed6f3yo f
JuneSunday Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes FlatListed7f4yo+ f

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Towcester Racecourse</span>

Towcester Racecourse is a greyhound racing track and former horse racing venue at Towcester in Northamptonshire, England. It has staged the English Greyhound Derby in 2018, 2021 and has won the contract for the next 5 years from 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayr Racecourse</span>

Ayr Racecourse at Whitletts Road, Ayr, Scotland, was opened in 1907. There are courses for flat and for National Hunt racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wetherby Racecourse</span> Racecourse (equine) in Yorkshire, England

Wetherby Racecourse is a racecourse situated near the market town of Wetherby in West Yorkshire, England, located 12 miles (19 km) from Leeds city centre. For most of its history the course has hosted only National Hunt racing but staged its first Flat racing fixture in April 2015.

The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 6½ furlongs, and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on 27 December.

The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs at Newbury in April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hereford Racecourse</span>

Hereford Racecourse is a horse racing venue located in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, owned by Herefordshire Council and operated by Arena Racing Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musselburgh Racecourse</span>

Musselburgh Racecourse is a horse racing venue located in the Millhill area of Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, UK, close to the River Esk. It is the second biggest racecourse in Scotland and is the fourteenth biggest in the UK. In 2016, Musselburgh staged 28 fixtures. It was officially known as "Edinburgh Racecourse", and referred to as such in the English press, until the beginning of 1996 but was widely referred to as "Musselburgh" in Scotland long before that and was widely referred to as Musselburgh in the racing pages of Scottish newspapers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nottingham Racecourse</span>

Nottingham Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated at Colwick Park, close to the River Trent and about 3 km east of the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Leighs</span> Village in Essex, England

Great Leighs is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Great and Little Leighs, in the Chelmsford district of Essex, England, halfway between Chelmsford itself and Braintree. In 1931 the parish had a population of 728.

The March Stakes was a flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years. It was run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and was scheduled to take place each year in late August.

The National Hunt Challenge Cup is a Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles 6 furlongs, and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Hampton Court Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlongs and 212 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Encke (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Encke was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse on 15 September 2012 when he defeated the Triple Crown bid of Camelot. In spring of 2013 Encke was banned from racing after failing a drug test. He returned to racing in 2014 and was placed in three races including the Irish St. Leger. He sustained a fatal injury in training in October 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Certify (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Certify is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In her first season of racing, which began in July 2012 she won all four of her races including the Group One Fillies' Mile and ended the British season as one of the year's most highly rated two-year-old fillies. She was regarded as a leading contender for the following year's classics but was suspended from racing after failing a drug test in April 2013.

Arena Racing Company, also called ARC Racing and Leisure Group is a UK private company, created in 2012 by the merger of Arena Leisure and Northern Racing. It owns and operates 16 racecourses in Great Britain, accounting for 39% of British racing fixtures. It also operates hotels at Wolverhampton Racecourse, Lingfield Park Racecourse and Doncaster Racecourse and golf courses at Lingfield, Southwell and Newcastle. Following the purchase of Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in 2020 the company became the leading greyhound racing operator in the UK. In November 2022, it was announced Arena Racing Company had acquired the Athens-headquartered omni-channel content distributor, Vermantia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Lantern (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sky Lantern is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the leading European two-year-old fillies of 2012 when she won the Moyglare Stud Stakes in Ireland. In May 2013 she won the 200th running of the 1000 Guineas. She followed up with a win in the Coronation Stakes, and recovered from a controversial defeat by Elusive Kate in the Falmouth Stakes to record a fourth Group One win in the Sun Chariot Stakes. She remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to reproduce her best form, finishing unplaced in three races.

The Nottinghamshire Oaks is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to mares and fillies aged four years or older. It is run at Nottingham over a distance of 1 mile 2 furlongs and 50 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.

The Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race is a Grade 2 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four to six years. It is run at Aintree over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Grand National meeting in early April.

The Houghton Mares' Chase is a Listed steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run at Carlise over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. It is scheduled to take place in later November or early December each year. The race was first run in 2015 as the ApolloBet Mares' Chase as part of a British Horseracing Authority move to enhance the National Hunt racing programme for mares.

The Queen Charlotte Fillies' Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs at Chelmsford City in June.

References

  1. ↑ "Great Leighs debut delayed again". BBC News Online . BBC. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  2. ↑ "Great Leighs stages first meeting". BBC News Online . BBC. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
  3. ↑ "Newest racecourse put in administration". BBC News Online . BBC. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Update from administrators on Great Leighs racecourse Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , creditman.biz, 19 March 2009.
  5. ↑ "Great Leighs 'knew why its licence was rejected'". Echo. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Great Leighs takeover is agreed". BBC News Online . BBC. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  7. ↑ "No buyers come forward for Great Leighs racecourse". BBC News Online . BBC. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  8. ↑ J. A. McGrath (25 February 2011). "Andrew Tinkler wants to re-open Great Leighs racecourse". telegraph.co.uk.
  9. ↑ "BBC Sport - Great Leighs racecourse fixture bid refused". BBC Sport. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Great Leighs applies to host races in 2014". BBC. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "Great Leighs fails with second BHA fixture bid". BBC. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Daily Telegraph 19 December 2013 - Great Leighs could stage racing in 2015 as Chelmsford City Racecourse after Betfred takeover. Accessed 24 January 2014
  13. ↑ "Great Leighs & Newcastle all-weather can apply for fixtures". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Chelmsford City racecourse awarded 12 fixtures for 2015". BBC Sport. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Chelmsford City Racecourse in Great Leighs granted 58 fixtures for 2015". essexchronicle.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Chelmsford City racecourse ready for historic first meeting". BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Dench, Graham. "Plan for new turf track and casino moves a big step closer". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

51°50′27.98″N0°30′45.25″E / 51.8411056°N 0.5125694°E / 51.8411056; 0.5125694

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.