BHA put back Leighs inspection
The latest formal inspection by the British Horseracing Authority, planned for Monday, has been put back to February 7.
The venue had hoped to finally open its doors to racing on March 18 after repeated delays.
The course, on a 430-acre site north of Chelmsford, Essex, should originally have been launched in October 2006 but a serious of hold-ups have dogged the track over the last 18 months.
BHA communications manager Will Lambe said: “Our inspectorate had been set to visit Great Leighs on Monday with a view to hopefully signing off on the racecourse, but it became clear during the week that this visit would not have been worthwhile as the racecourse is still not ready, not least due to the current inclement weather.
“The formal inspection has been rescheduled for Thursday February 7, and that is now the focus of our attention.
“No decisions have yet been taken with regard to the fixtures Great Leighs have handed back to us, or the racecourse’s potential opening date.”
An opening meeting had been pencilled in for February 24 but that was put back to mid-March following a visit from the BHA inspectorate recently.
The completion of the laying of the Polytrack surface and installation of some of the necessary integrity facilities were among the outstanding issues.
When Great Leighs does eventually open, it will be the first new racecourse in Britain for over 80 years and will boast a floodlit all-weather circuit.
