Formerly Great Leighs, Chelmsford City racecourse given 56 meetings

Chelmsford City racecourse will stage 56 meetings next year, according to the track's managing director Philip Siers. The All Weather course formerly known as Great Leighs, will host racing for the first time since it was closed in 2009 after going into administration. The British Horseracing Authority had initially authorised 12 fixtures for the Essex all-weather flat track.

"There will be a full programme and we hope that will go from strength to strength. We're scheduled to start racing around the middle of January. We'll probably have a couple of meetings in January to give us a small start into the racing season, but we've been guaranteed 56 fixtures next year." said the Chelmsford City Management who hope to have new grandstands in operation by November and, although next year's meetings will be run on an all-weather surface, they also aim to have a turf track in place by late 2016.

Chelmsford City has been owned since 2011 by MC Racetracks, which failed with two bids to acquire fixtures before finally being approved this year. The BHA will release the full 2015 schedule before the end of the month.