You are here: Home / Articles / News
Great Leighs racecourse to be sold to consortium
26 September, 2009
Subscribe to Horse & Hound and save up to 35% today
Racing looks set to return to Great Leighs racecourse in 2011.
Deloitte, administrators for Great Leighs, announced on 9 September that an agreement for the sale of the Essex track — for an undisclosed sum — had been reached with a consortium led by Ashfields Carriage and Polo Club owner Terry Chambers and Unex Group chairman Bill Gredley.
The consortium hopes the sale will be completed on 29 September and that racing will return in 2011.
But a spokesman for the British Horseracing Authority said a racing licence has not yet been sought.
The track received praise from jockeys and trainers when it opened in April 2008, but since going into administration in January, the racecourse has suffered a series of setbacks.
In May, a sale agreement was made with Mr Chambers, but he withdrew his offer.
In 2003, Mr Chambers bought Ashfields and transformed it from a farm into a state-of-the-art equestrian centre. When his original offer was revealed, local riders were hopeful his purchase of Great Leighs would provide more opportunities for horse owners in the area.
This news story was first published in H&H (24 September, '09)
Related articles:
- Great Leighs racecourse is sold and its future secured
- Could racing return to Great Leighs by 2013?
- Runners negotiate cross-country course at Great Witchingham
- Great Yorkshire show video: final preparations
- Racehorse welfare charity Greatwood opens its doors
- Great Yorkshire Show video: foal is named
- Jodie Kidd to be guest of honour at Greatwood Open Day
- Great Yorkshire Show video: meet the new foal
- Could you strut your stuff at the Great Yorkshire Show?
- Great Yorkshire Show: preparing the mare and foal