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HEREFORD & FOLKESTONE CLOSURE UPDATES
Dec 12 2012On 27 July Arena Racing Company “ARC” announced the closure of Hereford Racecourse and the temporary closure of Folkestone Racecourse. On Sunday 16th December Hereford will host its final fixture followed by Folkestone on Tuesday 18th December.
The fixtures for both racecourses have since been transferred and will be hosted at other ARC tracks in 2013. Since the announcement there has been a considerable amount of work undertaken in respect of the future of both tracks.
Folkestone Racecourse
Disappointingly Shepway District Council withdrew their support for the racecourse proposals within the core strategy. This left the racecourse with no certainty regards any future development plans.
The council issued modifications to the Core Strategy for public consultation on 29th October 2012, following which the Board of ARC have made representations within that consultation to attempt to secure a future for Folkestone Racecourse. This includes more general wording about future developments which if approved would enable the Board to propose more detailed plans that would meet the necessary tests set by the local Council and as such could lead to the re-development of the racecourse.
The Board has received general support from Kent County Council, and has held discussions with Shepway District Council who would also like to see the Racecourse re-open and enhance its facilities. It is therefore hoped that the Inspector will agree to a criteria based policy for the Racecourse when he has had the opportunity to review the representations made early in the New Year.Hereford Racecourse
Since the announcement there have been several meetings with the officers at Herefordshire Council regarding racing continuing at the track. Both parties continue to explore opportunities to develop the facilities which would lead to Hereford Racecourse becoming a more viable venue. These discussions are also linked to a new long term lease which would replace the existing lease which only has 17 years left to run.Tony Kelly ARC’s Managing Director commented “We were disappointed by the Inspectors report on our plans for Folkestone Racecourse, however having taken advice we have continued to press for the redevelopment of the venue. We are hopeful that this approach will yield better results.”
“In respect of Hereford Race course we have held constructive discussions with the Council but there remains a long way to go. Despite reports to the contrary we have not been approached by any interested third parties who are willing to invest in the track, although we remain open and willing to discuss that should it be the case.”
from the racing post today:
"Interest in taking over t e running of Hereford by two new groups – one headed by former clerk of the course John Williams and the other by the company that runs Bangor and Chester racecourses – has so far come to nothing, while negotiations between Arc and Herefordshire Council continue, with both parties remaining a long way from agreement.
Williams said: "It’s a disappointment which is pretty unnecessary but there is nothing anybody can do. It’s the end of an era.
"Our position is no different to the end of July as we have not heard from anyone. We’re waiting in the wings, we’re fully capitalised and ready to go. The council wants racing to continue and it doesn’t make any sense.
"It looks to me as if there won’t be racing before 2015 unless Arc comes back or a third party is approved in time. We don’t mind who runs the racecourse as there are others who have expressed an interest, but they should let somebody have it."
Someones lying then, the ARC press release and the snip from the racing post article can’t both be correct!
Realistically you’d be mad to redecorate a flat with a 17 year lease let alone invest in a racecourse, the council need to be more helpful.
The council should have told ARC to take a running jump, cancelled the lease immediately and started working with those who really want to see the course reopened as soon as possible. ARC have broken their lease by shutting the course down so they should have forefeited any further say in the matter.
Any hereford locals here, know what the real story is with the council?
It’s a shame; I read in one of the articles the racecourse has been there for 241 years! Is society really changing so much that what was good for 241 years is no longer viable? This isn’t "new" racing like all-weather (nothing against that by the way), people have been attending NH racing there for centuries.
Percentage of Hereford meetings having fewer than 1,000 attending in past 5 yrs: 27.2% 53.8% 40% 33% 30.7%
Is that sustainable?
Granted the number of fixtures at AS courses attracting less than 1,000 will be a lot higher but the volume and type of racing makes it more sustainable due to the media / levy generated
Just been belatedly watching recordings of the ATR coverage of the final days at Hereford and Folkestone.
Thoroughly enjoyable, if modest, fare and proceedings at Folkestone were considerably enlivened by Tommo’s enthusiastic commentating there.
Good, too, that on-course host Jim McGrath gave viewers some views of the track from high up near the judge’s box, including shots of the attractive paddock, with its trees, and a view of the famous goldfish pond.
Certainly a pity that the course has now closed. I don’t believe for a minute that it will reopen if some unlikely-sounding agreement can be reached over development of the surrounding sites.
Good coverage from Hereford, with commentator David Fitzgerald again giving good value.
The John Williams group hoping to resume racing at the course looks as though it will probably end up being disappointed.
I suppose at least the owners are keeping the place in good condition but, again, I’ll be surprised if we ever see racing action from Hereford again.
Two courses closing in a week. Which one will be next? Worcester?
Arab racing during the summer.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-ra … -five-arab meetings/1217014/top/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews
If they can do Arab racing, why can’t they do jumps?
Ridiculous isn’t it.
I’ll try and get my behind down there to support some racing at least.
Ridiculous isn’t it.
I’ll try and get my behind down there to support some racing at least.
Please do! People knock Arab Racing, and I must admit, before i started working for ARO last month, I hadn’t a clue about it.
It’s a great way for young jockeys to get racing experience especially.
It’s a great shame that Hereford aren’t doing jumps meetings anymore, but we are really chuffed to be keeping racing in some form going at the track.
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