Racing at Great Leighs by August

From the archive, first published Wednesday 25th Apr 2007.

Horse racing could begin at Great Leighs as soon as August.

Following a visit from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority this week, owner John Holmes was advised that if the £50 million racecourse is completed by June 21 there would be a two-month trial period of the new and otherwise untested track before race-meetings are held.

A Great Leighs spokesman said: "With a full-time operational and hospitality staff set to be in place by start-up and with only one fixture scheduled for July in any event, the first scheduled fixture in August, Thursday, August 16, is next available opening date."

Following bad weather during the winter, organisers at Great Leighs capitalised on the dry spring and caught up with work on the racecourse's infrastructure.

Mr Holmes said: "We hope our attention to detail for start-up' will enthuse visitors about what is yet to come."