BHA rejects Great Leighs 2014 bid
An application for Great Leighs to stage racing fixtures in 2014 has been rejected by the British Horseracing Authority.
Last Updated: 27/06/13 8:40pm
In a statement to The Guardian, former Racecourse Association chairman Brown, said: "Our application... was comprehensive, with the support of the bank, new shareholders, sponsors and other partners. We have met all the guidelines laid down by the BHA but their interpretation of those guidelines allowed them to reject our application."
"The whole process has been one driven by legal and accounting issues to find reasons to exclude us. To deny this great facility to racing is absolutely disgraceful.
"The decision will retain the duopoly of the two main racecourse groups in [all-weather racing], which is not in the interests of competition."
Having considered the application of MC Racetracks Limited - on behalf of Great Leighs - at its June board meeting, the BHA announced earlier on Thursday that it would not be permitting the track to take part in the fixture allocation process.
Adam Brickell, director of integrity, legal and risk for the BHA, said: "The application has been given careful and thorough consideration, but the Board was not in a position to approve Great Leighs' participation in the 2014 fixture allocation process.
"BHA remains open to new racecourse applications under our annual guidelines, and will continue to provide the necessary assistance and guidance to prospective applicants."
Great Leighs staged its first meeting in April 2008 - when it was the first new track to host racing in Britain since 1927 - but by January 2009 had closed its doors. Later that month it was announced the companies owning the racecourse had gone into administration.
Newmarket trainers had been particularly vocal in their support for the resumption of racing at the track and several have taken horses to the track in recent months to work on the Polytrack surface.
Trainer John Berry tweeted: "Racing so popular in Essex, having a racecourse there is no-brainer. Hope it gets sorted."