HORSERACING will return to Great Leighs after its track was granted fixtures for the second time in its history.
The British Horseracing Authority announcement on Monday opened the gates to promises of 100 meetings a year, a 10,000-plus capacity stadium and big-name concerts.
"We can guarantee we will definitely be racing in 2015," said Chelmsford City Racecourse chairman and Betfred director of racing Joe Scanlon.
"I wouldn't say we are past the winning post but we have come out of the stalls, we've gone around the first bend and we're on our way."
The BHA convened to approve the application by Great Leighs Estates Limited, an amalgamation of Betfred tycoon Fred Done and media partners SIS and Bet Solutions International.
It promises the track will be included in the 2015 season, and the full fixture list will be announced in September.
Mr Scanlon, whose team will start bidding for specific race days from June, hopes for 40 events in 2015 and 100 the year after with three to four race days a week.
A decision on who receives the £6 million contract to build the track's 2,000-plus capacity, 180 metre-long grandstand, due for completion in the autumn, will be announced tomorrow.
The team has also received outline planning permission for a £18 million, 10,000-plus capacity grandstand, to host concerts in five years' time.
The latest promises, however, follow years of false dawns, financial failures and a former owner's arrest on suspicion of VAT fraud.
"I can't be responsible for what went on before but now we have very creditable backing with our media partners SIS and Betfred, the largest individual bookmakers in the country," said Mr Scanlon.
"We didn't buy this with debt, we haven't had problems with people in the past and we are in it for different reasons, for the media rights which we can sell overseas, for the Tote which Betfred own, the only organisation in the UK which is allowed to run pool betting on horseracing, and this is all on top of the race days and the numbers we get through the gates.
"And Fred is not someone who likes to come second. He bought this in his family name and he's in it for the long term. We would not be doing this if we were not serious, it would be a waste of our time."
The team has already started tidying up the weed-ridden ground, and draining five-foot deep flooding in the horses' underground walkway.
They will also construct a pedestrian tunnel from the car park to the grandstand.
Fred Done, 70, said: "I am delighted that we will race in 2015 and I look forward to seeing Chelmsford City Racecourse welcoming the racing public, at what will surely be the best all-weather racing venue in the UK."
The first owner of the racecourse says he is delighted horses will return to gallop in Great Leighs. John Holmes, of Moulsham Hall Lane, said: "I am delighted that the British Horseracing Authority are supporting the return of racing to Chelmsford City Racecourse at Great Leighs. I believe this is the best all-weather track in Europe. It successfully staged 48 quality race meetings until locking horns with RBS in 2008. The racing fraternity will be thrilled to see the return of racing and I wish the new consortium every success".
