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Chelmsford City Racecourse
History of Newcastle Racecourse (Australia)
2001 – Entrepreneur John Holmes first revealed plans to develop a new racecourse on the former Essex County Showground site near Great Leighs. The project was developed by John Holmes, with his son Jonathan Holmes also involved in the venture.
2006 – Great Leighs Racecourse was originally scheduled to open in October 2006, but the launch was postponed several times after the racecourse was not granted fixtures.
2008 – The racecourse opened as Great Leighs Racecourse and staged its first race meeting on April 20, 2008, becoming the first entirely new racecourse in Britain since Taunton opened in 1927. The first meeting with full public admission took place on May 28, 2008.
2009 – Great Leighs was placed into administration, and its temporary racing licence was revoked on January 16, 2009, due to insufficient financial backing.
2013 – The closed Great Leighs site was taken over by Great Leighs Estates Limited and renamed Chelmsford City Racecourse.
2015 – The racecourse reopened as Chelmsford City Racecourse, with its official opening held on January 11, 2015. The first public race day followed on February 1, 2015. The reopened venue became known as Britain’s newest racecourse and one of the UK’s five fully floodlit all-weather tracks.
2015 – In its first year of operation, Chelmsford City Racecourse recorded attendance of more than 80,000 and staged its first major music concert, with Madness performing after racing to a crowd of more than 10,000.
2018 – Chelmsford City Racecourse staged its busiest year of racing to date, with 63 fixtures and £5.2 million in prize money. The year also included the racecourse’s first Listed race, the Queen Charlotte Stakes, and the inaugural Chelmsford City Cup.
2019 – Chelmsford City Racecourse staged 60 race meetings and added another Listed race, the Chelmer Stakes. The venue also co-hosted its first music festival, Clockstock.
2020 onward – Chelmsford City Racecourse was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic but became one of the first racecourses to return with behind-closed-doors racing. The venue also operated as one of the South East’s largest vaccination centers.
2025 – The racecourse marked 10 years of Chelmsford City Racecourse with a celebratory raceday and promoted a wider calendar of racing, music, and event activity.
2026 – Chelmsford’s racing schedule became uncertain after the British Horseracing Authority refused Golden Mile Racing Limited’s racecourse licence application, and the appeal was dismissed in June 2026.
Track Details
Main All-Weather Course
- Chelmsford City Racecourse is a Thoroughbred Flat racing venue with a left-handed Polytrack oval.
- The course is completely flat and measures about 8.5 furlongs, or approximately 1,700 meters, in circumference.
- The layout has broad, sweeping turns and is generally described as galloping in nature.
- The home straight is about two furlongs, or approximately 400 meters.
- There are starting chutes for races over 7f, 1m and 2m.
- The official going is listed as all-weather, with the surface shown as Standard when racing conditions are posted.
Other Facilities
Grandstand
- Chelmsford City Racecourse has a 250,000-square-foot grandstand.
- The grandstand contains key dining and hospitality areas, including The Club Restaurant & Lounge, The Fairwood Brasserie, and the Sports Bar & The Grill Kitchen.
- The grandstand was shortlisted for an architectural award in 2016.
The Club Restaurant & Lounge
- The Club Restaurant & Lounge is Chelmsford City Racecourse’s premier dining experience.
- It is located on the first floor of the Grandstand.
- The space offers panoramic views over the entire site, modern British cuisine, and bespoke catering options.
- It is used for food-led celebrations, dinners, award nights, race-day dining, private events, and corporate events.
The Fairwood Brasserie
- The Fairwood Brasserie is located on the ground floor of the Grandstand, along the final furlong of the home straight.
- It offers views of the winning line from its private terrace.
- The space has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the home straight.
- The venue offers a seasonal buffet and is used for race-day hospitality, lunches, breakout spaces, group bookings, private events, and celebrations.
Sports Bar
- The Sports Bar is open to all racegoers on standard race days.
- It is a trackside bar with two large bars, views of the home straight, multiple betting facilities, live sports, drinks, and food from The Grill Kitchen.
- The Lobby and Sports Bar are also used for conferences and exhibitions, with a built-in partition that can divide the space.
The Grill Kitchen
- The Grill Kitchen is Chelmsford’s casual trackside food option.
- It is connected with the Sports Bar.
- The Grill Kitchen serves food for racegoers using the Sports Bar.
Marquees and Outdoor Event Spaces
- Chelmsford City Racecourse uses its grounds and adaptable facilities for large-scale music concerts, festivals, and outdoor events.
- The Summer Marquee is a year-round flexible space that can accommodate up to 900 seated guests or 3,000 standing guests.
- The Queen Charlotte Marquee accommodates groups of 100 to 300 guests and includes private toilets, a kitchen, an Art Deco bar, and a wraparound private terrace overlooking the final straight.
- The racecourse also lists the Parade Ring as one of its event spaces.
- The racecourse hosts live music concerts, festivals, conferences, exhibitions, weddings, parties, celebrations, corporate gatherings, and seasonal events.
- Its concert and entertainment history includes Madness, Simply Red, Rick Astley, Jools Holland, Boyzone, and Clockstock.
Race Schedule and Major Events & Races
Schedule of Major Races in Chelmsford City Racecourse
🐎 Live Racing Schedule
- Chelmsford City Racecourse historically staged all-weather racing throughout the year, including daytime and evening meetings under floodlights.
- Its official 2025 fixture list included 38 scheduled race meetings, beginning in January.
- The 2025 schedule included Good Friday racing and Chelmsford’s first Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture.
- As of June 2026, this regular schedule is not currently applicable because Chelmsford has no confirmed licensed racing operation after the BHA refused Golden Mile Racing Limited’s racecourse licence application and the appeal was dismissed.
Major Race Events
- 🐴 Queen Charlotte Stakes
- 🐴 Chelmer Stakes
- 🐴 Cardinal Stakes
- 🐴 Chelmsford City Cup
- 🐴 Good Friday racing
- 🐴 Sky Bet Sunday Series fixture
Location and Access to the Racecourse
Address and Road Access
- Chelmsford City Racecourse is located at Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1QP.
- The racecourse is situated in Great Leighs, five miles north of Chelmsford and 50 miles from central London.
- The main entrance and car park are located off the A131 bypass, with access via the A131, A120, or M11.
Parking
- Chelmsford City Racecourse offers free car parking for customers attending racedays and private events.
- Parking is subject to capacity and operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Disabled parking is available for Blue Badge holders, with 30 dedicated bays adjacent to the ticket office.
Accessibility
- The entrance to the racecourse is through the main ticket office, which has level-floor access.
- The main entrance supports wheelchair users, semi-ambulant visitors, pushchairs, and visitors accompanied by assistance dogs.
- Access to the centre of the course is through a pedestrian tunnel with a winding sloped path of approximately 130 meters.
- Areas not at ground level are accessible by ramps and/or lifts.
- A complimentary buggy service is available for guests with mobility difficulties from the ticket office to the main Grandstand.
- Racegoers should confirm public-entry details directly with the racecourse before attending, especially while Chelmsford’s racing status remains uncertain.
Contact
- Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1QP
- Phone: +44 1245 360300
- https://chelmsfordcityracecourse.com/
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Chelmsford City Racecourse
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