Two new racecourse applications approved

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has announced that two applications for new or converted racetracks to enter the 2015 fixture allocation process have been approved by its Board.

The two applications are:

• From Great Leighs Estates Limited (GLEL) for a new racecourse on the site of the former racecourse Great Leighs, now to be known as Chelmsford City racecourse.
• From Arena Racing Company (ARC) to convert the existing 1m 6f flat turf track at Newcastle racecourse into an All-Weather surface

The BHA Board has granted approval for both racecourses to participate in the fixture allocation process for 2015. The first stage of this process will be the development and subsequent Board approval of the 2015 Fixture List strategy. The final Fixture List for 2015 is due to be published by the end of September.

Ruth Quinn, Director of Racing for BHA, said: “Having submitted applications which met all of the criteria for new and converted racecourses, both Chelmsford City and the converted Newcastle All-Weather track have been granted permission to join the 2015 fixture allocation process.

“However, this should not be interpreted as a guarantee or indication of an expansion of All-Weather fixtures or the overall Fixture List in order to accommodate new fixtures at either venue. We continue to develop the fixture allocation process, part of which involves determining customer demand for fixtures and the scope of the horse population to meet such demand.”