Racing News
Racing Returns to Chelmsford Tonight: First Meeting Since March
Racing returns to Chelmsford City this evening for the first time since March. An eight race floodlit card on the Polytrack starts at 4:45pm and runs to 8:15pm, with 78 runners declared.
2 NOVEMBER 2026
Head Sports Analyst
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Racing returns to Chelmsford City this evening for the first time since March. An eight race floodlit card on the Polytrack starts at 4:45pm and runs to 8:15pm, with 78 runners declared.
It is the first meeting under Arena Racing Company (ARC), which took over the Essex track on a multi year lease after seven months without racing. The going is Standard and every race is live on Sky Sports Racing.
Why Chelmsford stopped racing, and how it came back
Chelmsford's last race was on 26 March 2026, when Engross won the closing 1m2f handicap. Behind the scenes, the company running the track was already in trouble.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | Operator Great Leighs Estates Limited (GLEL) is in administration; the 26 March meeting goes ahead with the administrator's agreement. The BBC reports debts of more than £22 million. |
| 1 April 2026 | The BHA Board refuses a racecourse licence to Golden Mile Racing Limited, the new company set up to run the track. Three fixtures, including Good Friday, are cancelled. |
| 26 June 2026 | The independent Licensing Committee dismisses Golden Mile Racing's appeal. Through the summer, Chelmsford's fixtures are transferred to other tracks. |
| 5 October 2026 | ARC announces a multi year lease to run the track. |
| 23 October 2026 | The BHA gives the go ahead for racing to resume on 2 November. |
It is not the first time the track has had to start again. It opened as Great Leighs in April 2008 and closed after its owners went into administration in January 2009. It reopened as Chelmsford City in 2015.
We have tips for tonight on our Chelmsford tips page and our racing tips page.
Tonight's Chelmsford card
Eight Flat races on Standard Polytrack, from a 5f sprint to 1m5f66y.
| Time | Race | Class | Distance | Runners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:45pm | Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap (3yo+ 0-70) | 5 | 5f | 7 |
| 5:15pm | Make The Move To Midnite Handicap (3yo+ 0-80) | 4 | 1m5f66y | 6 |
| 5:45pm | All Weather Championship Is Back EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (2yo) | 5 | 6f | 12 |
| 6:15pm | AWC Finals Day At Newcastle 26th March Nursery Handicap (2yo 0-75) | 5 | 6f | 10 |
| 6:45pm | AWC Season 14 Has Begun EBF Fillies' Restricted Novice Stakes (2yo) | 4 | 7f | 14 |
| 7:15pm | AW Trials Day, Lingfield 2nd Jan 2027 Fillies' Handicap (3yo+ 0-85) | 4 | 7f | 8 |
| 7:45pm | ARC All Weather Bonus Is Back Handicap (3yo+ 0-65) | 6 | 7f | 13 |
| 8:15pm | ARC All Weather Bonus Is Back Handicap (3yo+ 0-75) | 5 | 1m2f | 8 |
Betting angles for tonight
- David Probert rides in all eight races. His mounts are Startling (4:45), Mother Dear (5:15), Hosta (5:45), Californian Angel (6:15), Scarlett's Spell (6:45), Queen Tamara (7:15), Fresh Fade (7:45) and Hamdania (8:15).
- The Racing Post's verdict sides with Startling in the opener.
- Seven months off the track. No horse has run at Chelmsford since March, so recent course form is thin.
- Two year olds make up three races. The 5:45, 6:15 and 6:45 are for juveniles, and several runners are unraced or have had just one or two starts. There is little form to go on in those.
If you bet tonight, take a price with a bookmaker that offers Best Odds Guaranteed. See our Best Odds Guaranteed betting sites and horse racing betting sites guides.
What's next for Chelmsford
Five more fixtures are scheduled before the end of 2026: 5 and 26 November, and 3, 10 and 17 December.
- TV: racing is back on Sky Sports Racing and The Racing Partnership.
- All Weather Bonus: qualifying ARC operated Chelmsford fixtures count towards ARC's £1,000,000 All Weather Bonus scheme for 2026/27, which runs until Good Friday, 26 March 2027.
- Who runs it: Paul Ellison, Executive Director of Brighton Racecourse, oversees day to day operations.
FAQs
When does racing return to Chelmsford?
Tonight, Monday 2 November 2026. The first race is at 4:45pm and the last at 8:15pm.
Why was there no racing at Chelmsford?
The track's operator went into administration, and the BHA refused a licence to the new company set up to run it. Its appeal was dismissed in June.
Who runs Chelmsford City Racecourse now?
Arena Racing Company, on a multi year lease from the freeholders.
What surface does Chelmsford race on?
Polytrack, on a left handed oval all weather track, raced under floodlights.
Is Chelmsford racing on TV?
Yes, live on Sky Sports Racing.
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