Arena To Manage Racing Operation At Great Leighs

Arena Leisure is to manage the racing operations of Great Leighs, which will become Britain's first new racecourse since 1927 when it eventually receives the all-clear to open.

The opening of the venue, on a 430-acre site north of Chelmsford, Essex, has been subject to repeated delays, with the original launch of October 2006 continually put back. March 18 is now the expected opening date.

Arena Leisure owns seven racecourses, including the original three all-weather tracks in the UK ? Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton.

John Holmes, owner of Great Leighs, said: 'After seven years of hard slog planning, funding and building Great Leighs, it is unimaginable that we would leave the operation of it to chance.

'With the world likely to be looking on, the industry is understandably nervous that we get it right. No-one has tried to create and hone a race-day team from scratch, so it was a no-brainer to tap into the considerable resources of Arena, the operators unsurpassed in this sphere.

'This complements our earlier arrangements with Sodexho Prestige and Racetech to manage other key race-day operations.'

Ian Renton, racing director at Arena, said: 'Arena Leisure is delighted to be involved in launching a brand new racecourse in the UK.

'John Holmes has achieved something very special which will play an important part in the history of British racing.

'It has been a long and arduous task for John over many years and we are pleased to be able to assist him in bringing his plans to fruition.'

(C) PA Sport