The new owners of Chelmsford City Racecourse have been granted 12 fixtures for the 2015 season.
The British Horseracing Authority today announced the course, formally named Great Leighs Racecourse, will host these "start-up" fixtures, while adding that a course in Newcastle will host all-weather races once its development is completed.
The Essex racecourse will now be able to apply for further fixtures on top of these 12.
Director of Racing at the BHA Ruth Quinn said: "Consultation will continue on the allocation of BHA controlled fixtures and initiatives to address small field sizes, including a possible reduction in the number of total races run in the overall race programme, as proposed by BHA in the consultation document."
Meanwhile a £6 million, 2,000-plus capacity, grandstand is currently being built at the county course.
The return of horseracing to the county will spell the end of six years of uncertainty surrounding the derelict ground's future.
