UK racecourse in administration chaos because it’s stripped of licence | UK | News | EUROtoday

Racing at Chelmsford City Racecourse has been dropped at an abrupt halt after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Wednesday that it has refused to grant the brand new operator a racecourse licence. The venue hosts year-round horse racing alongside a spread of different occasions, together with restaurant eating, weddings and main dwell music exhibits reminiscent of a competition headlined by Justin Timberlake in July. All upcoming fixtures on the Essex monitor have been cancelled with rapid impact after the BHA rejected an software from new operator Golden Mile Racing Limited (GMRL).

The resolution comes after the earlier licence holder, Great Leighs Estates Limited (GLEL), entered administration in March. The BHA defined that the fixture held on the racecourse on March 26 went forward underneath the earlier licence holder, GLEL, and with the administrator’s settlement. However, the licence held by GLEL expired on March 31, and so future fixtures want a brand new licence holder to be in place.

As a consequence, fixtures scheduled for early April, together with these deliberate for April 2, 3 and 9, have all been scrapped, with no racing permitted on the venue except the scenario is resolved or a profitable enchantment is lodged.

A press release stated: “GMRL representatives made their case to the Board on March 31. Having considered the matter carefully and taken full account of the points raised, the Board’s position remained that it did not consider it appropriate to grant a racecourse licence for CCR to GMRL. The reasons for this decision are confidential.

“The Board’s decision means GMRL is not licensed to stage any fixtures, pending the outcome of any appeal. This means that, regrettably, no further fixtures will be staged at CCR pending the outcome of any appeal process. This includes the fixtures on 2 April, 3 April and 9 April.”

Golden Mile Racing Limited now has 21 days to enchantment the choice by way of the unbiased licensing course of. The fixtures on April 2 and April 3 is not going to be rescheduled. Plans for future fixtures together with April 9 can be introduced sooner or later, the BHA stated.

The regulator added: “The BHA has worked tirelessly with stakeholders to deliver this week’s fixtures. It is regrettable they have been cancelled at such short notice. We recognise this will impact participants – especially trainers, staff and jockeys – as well as racegoers. Further updates as regards this situation will be provided as appropriate.”

Chelmsford City said in a statement addressed to owners and trainers that they met all conditions set by the BHA to transfer the racing licence to new operator Golden Mile Racing Limited, including securing funding, governance changes, and successfully staging a recent fixture without issues. The racecourse claimed the BHA initially accepted these arrangements, but then unexpectedly reversed its position just days before the scheduled races.

Chelmsford City added: “We usually are not carried out preventing. Chelmsford City Racecourse is formally difficult this resolution by way of each avenue obtainable to us, together with the BHA’s personal appeals course of.

“We believe the decision was procedurally unfair, contradicts the BHA’s own published rules, and has caused entirely avoidable damage to the sport and everyone who depends on it. “

Opened in 2008, Great Leighs Racecourse entered administration a 12 months later and reopened in 2015 underneath new possession.