Racing set to return to Chelmsford City Racecourse after new operator agrees deal
Horse racing is set to return to Chelmsford City Racecourse next month following a major deal which will see Arena Racing Company take control of the venue.
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has agreed a multi-year lease with the freeholders of Chelmsford City Racecourse, bringing months of uncertainty over the future of racing at the Essex venue closer to an end.
Under the agreement, ARC will take complete control of racing operations at the racecourse as well as its non-racing events business.
The first meeting under the new arrangement is provisionally scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, subject to completion of the British Horseracing Authority’s racecourse licensing process.
Six Chelmsford fixtures planned before Christmas
If the licensing process is completed as expected, Chelmsford is scheduled to stage six race meetings before the end of the year.
The planned fixtures are:
- Monday, November 2
- Thursday, November 5
- Thursday, November 26
- Thursday, December 3
- Thursday, December 10
- Thursday, December 17
The November 2 meeting has been provisionally earmarked as the first fixture under ARC management.
Chelmsford City Racecourse is already listing the six dates on its racing calendar, including a series of Christmas Racedays during November and December.
Racing has been absent since March
No racing has taken place at Chelmsford City Racecourse since March amid uncertainty surrounding the venue’s racing licence.
The previous licensee, Great Leighs Estates Limited, went into administration.
Golden Mile Racing Limited had subsequently been lined up to operate racing at the venue, but its application for a licence was rejected by the British Horseracing Authority.
While non-racing events have continued at the venue, the licensing situation prevented scheduled race meetings from going ahead.
The new multi-year agreement with ARC now provides a route for racing to resume.
Sky Sports Racing returns to Chelmsford
The deal will also see racing from Chelmsford City Racecourse return to Sky Sports Racing and The Racing Partnership.
Sky Sports Racing has not been Chelmsford’s broadcast partner since 2018.
Paul Ellison, Executive Director of Brighton Racecourse, will oversee the day-to-day operation of Chelmsford City Racecourse.
ARC Operations Director Kieran Gallagher said the company was delighted to have signed the lease and confirmed that preparations were under way to welcome horses, owners, trainers and racegoers back to Chelmsford.
He described the agreement as the beginning of a new era under the ARC banner.
£1million All-Weather Bonus
Chelmsford will also become part of ARC’s £1million All-Weather Bonus scheme.
Fixtures held at Chelmsford from its reopening through to Good Friday on March 26, 2027 will count towards the 2026/27 competition.
Chelmsford joins other ARC-operated all-weather courses including Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton.
Racing provisionally returns on November 2
The November 2 fixture remains dependent on the BHA completing its racecourse licensing process.
However, the signing of the multi-year lease represents the clearest indication yet that racing is preparing to return to Chelmsford after months of cancelled and transferred fixtures.
City Hub will continue to follow developments ahead of the proposed reopening meeting on November 2.