Essex race course calls in administrators (From Echo)

Essex race course calls in administrators

12:45pm Saturday 17th January 2009 in

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THE future of Britain's newest racetrack was in doubt after administrators were called in.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said meetings had been abandoned at Great Leighs, near Chelmsford, after an application to extend its temporary licence was rejected.

Last year, the track became the first to open in Britain since 1927.

Administrators Deloitte said it would be "assessing the position of the group in order to determine the best outcome for its creditors".

Earlier, track owner John Holmes confirmed an application for a renewed temporary licence had been turned down.

A statement on www.britishhorseracing.com said the track's temporary licence, issued on January 1, had expired on January 9.

It said an application for a renewal was declined at a hearing on Thursday.

The track, on a 430-acre site on the former Essex showground, north of Chelmsford, Essex, was originally planned for a launch in October 2006.

But a series of hold-ups delayed the opening until April last year.