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I’ll believe it when I see it – we don’t need another racecourse, especially an artificial surface one in the south.
Paul , please explain that one to me ….why dont we need another artificial course in the South
I thought it was a cracking night out when it was going
cheers
Ricky
Paul , please explain that one to me ….why dont we need another artificial course in the South
I thought it was a cracking night out when it was going
cheers
Ricky
There are already artificial surface courses at Kempton and Lingfield, plus two in the Midlands at Wolverhampton and Southwell.
Even if you accept the flawed premise that an additional artificial surface course is required, then it should be in the north.
Terrible news if true, this place lost enough money during its mercifully short existence to last several lifetimes.
Resurrection would mean even more money down the drain.
And with an overall reduction in fixtures a necessity, even if the "powers" that be appear to be incapable of bringing it about, which tracks should then give up their days so that Great Leighs can stagger on?
I simply do not understand why the bookies have not snapped it up , and run it as another lot of bags fixtures
It can be run under lights , and give them more options in the winter months ….and pay no levy as well …….good eh
All below Tarrif of course
Ricky
I simply do not understand why the bookies have not snapped it up , and run it as another lot of bags fixtures
It can be run under lights , and give them more options in the winter months ….and pay no levy as well …….good eh
All below Tarrif of course
Ricky
In fairness, Ricky, every single AW race this winter will be above tariff
Cripes ..you have surprised me there ….ok fair enough
But I think you would find some good racing there if say Ladbrokes (gibralter) bought it
I like the place , love the track , its very safe
Ricky
From the Braintree Chronicle:
GREAT Leighs racecourse is back on track to become a world-class racing venue after being bought by investors.
MC Racetracks of Reading took over the all-weather facility on Friday last week from West Register, a Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) subsidiary which bought it from the administrators Deloitte earlier this year.
gtleighs
.It puts an end to years of speculation and several failed attempts by investors to revive the racecourse’s fortunes.And the track, which hasn’t held a race meeting for almost three years after it went into administration, could be handed racing fixtures from the British Horseracing Authority by January 2013.
A major construction project will begin this year to build a hospitality complex, followed by a new grandstand in 2014.
MC Racetracks’ chief executive Tony James said: "This has been a long and complicated process but to finally exchange contracts is a tremendous achievement.
"We can now look forward to 2012 when the hard work will really begin.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parties involved – those many supporters from the Great Leighs and Chelmsford area; the huge support from the racing industry and especially Fraser Garrity and Jamie Stier of the British Horseracing Authority, who have guided us throughout."
Mr James said they had approached the BHA earlier this year about getting the track re-licensed, and the application process would begin in January.
He added: "Testing of the Polytrack (the synthetic racing surface), which included riders and trainers, was carried out throughout the summer and the track is in fine condition.
"All of the buildings on site are structurally sound, but have suffered a bit of wear and tear over the past few years, so a major project will be the construction of a hospitality complex this year and then a state-of-the-art grandstand."
Ben Deacon, of West Register, who has been managing the site on behalf of RBS, said: "I am pleased to confirm that the future development of the racecourse now appears secure.
"We will continue to support this project with its application for a British Horseracing Association licence."
Essex entrepreneur John Holmes built Britain’s first new racecourse in 80 years, but his vision turned into a nightmare when RBS called in administrators in January 2009, less than eight months after it opened.
Racehorses galloped along the course in April 2011 when a group of world-renowned trainers wanted to publicly demonstrate their determination to bring racing back to Essex.
Luca Cumani, Chris Wall, Stuart Williams and Phil McEntee, representing 60 trainers based in Newmarket, have consistently backed the bid for a new owner.
Each trainer sent two thoroughbreds to Great Leighs, hoping to convince a major player in the horseracing world to stump up the necessary cash.
Three times Derby winner Walter Swinburn was one of the first flat-racing trainers to walk the Great Leighs track.
Mr Swinburn, who famously won the Epsom Derby by a record ten lengths on superstar Shergar, said he was glad to hear the course was back in business and confident it would succeed.
"I found it to be a state-of-the-art course, the best in the country thanks to the all-weather track with its superb Polytrack surface for racing in all conditions."
Horses trained at the Walter Swinburn Racing Stables, in Hertfordshire, took part in the first races at Great Leighs nearly three years ago.
"We never had a winner but I knew the racecourse was a winner and I look forward to returning to Great Leighs," he said.
The Polytrack at Great Leighs was recently refurbished by MCE Ltd, also of Reading.
MCE boss Martin Collins said: "Great Leighs’ Polytrack was widely regarded as the best in the UK, if not Europe."
From the Braintree Chronicle:
GREAT Leighs racecourse is back on track to become a world-class racing venue after being bought by investors.
Thanks very much for this. Really interesting. Virtually the same as what I read in the Racing Post but good to be able to read it again.
I really hope it succeeds. It would be great to see the course back in action again. If there is such good will, as seems to be the case here, and genuine progress, let’s hope it will all prove fruitful.I’d be interested to know how Great Leighs’ Polytrack differs from that at Lingfield and Wolves or is it the same but just in better condition because it is newer?
A major construction project will begin this year to build a hospitality complex, followed by a new grandstand in 2014.
There’s nothing wrong with the track but the viewing was rubbish, by having a stand in the middle you cannot watch a race, only part of one.
All very well having hospitality there but if you can’t watch a race, what’s the point in going?
A major construction project will begin this year to build a hospitality complex, followed by a new grandstand in 2014.
There’s nothing wrong with the track but the viewing was rubbish, by having a stand in the middle you cannot watch a race, only part of one.
All very well having hospitality there but if you can’t watch a race, what’s the point in going?That’s exactly the reason I never went there. I was waiting until they got the viewing sorted out. Sadly, I waited so long that the course closed.
I’ve been to every other course in the country but not Great Leighs (apart from when a friend drove me there to have a look at it). Hope the project to reopen the course does come off so I can visit it properly for a race meeting.
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