Chelmsford City Racecourse

Chelmsford City Racecourse Guide

Welcome to our official guide to Chelmsford City Racecourse.

We explore this all-weather flat racing course in detail, examining its history, a guide to the track, hotel recommendations, fixtures, travel information, and betting guides.

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Overview of Chelmsford City Racecourse

The newest horseracing course in the UK, Chelmsford City Racecourse, has operated for less than a decade and already has an eventful history.

It is the first completely new course to open in Britain since Taunton Racecourse, which opened back in 1927.

Chelmsford City Racecourse opened in 2008 but has only operated successfully for less than five full years of racing. It was initially known as Great Leighs Racecourse (which is geographically accurate, as it is located in Great Leighs, halfway between Chelmsford and Braintree). Still, it was renamed when purchased by Betfred in 2015.

It’s often just referred to as ‘Chelmsford Racecourse’.

The track at Chelmsford City Racecourse is an all-weather left-handed course in an oval shape, just over a mile in length, and hosts one-mile and seven-furlong races starting at different spurs.

The course is Polytrack, so this, combined with the oval shape of the course, means that it is often compared to horse racing tracks in the USA.

Chelmsford City Racecourse has yet to have operated for long enough to have fully developed and established its place in the British horseracing scene, but that’s not to say it isn’t already making waves!

Critics and commentators have described the track design as ‘immaculate’, and the facilities on-site are modern and accommodating. Indeed, as a result, Chelmsford City Racecourse plays host to plenty of non-racing events as well as the usual race meets, and its location, set in 150 acres of parkland, means that it’s a favoured picturesque venue for businesses and events of all types.

As a new and purpose-built modern course, Chelmsford City Racecourse plays an essential role in the development of British horseracing. It runs ‘kids’ clubs’ for aspiring jockeys and trainers and works closely with the British Horseracing Authority to develop the business and offering where it can.

Chelmsford Racecourse

What are the Chelmsford Racecourse 2026 Fixtures?

DateRacecourseWeekday
2/1/2026Chelmsford CityFriday
8/1/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
15/1/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
29/1/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
12/2/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
21/2/2026Chelmsford CitySaturday
26/2/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
7/3/2026Chelmsford CitySaturday
12/3/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
26/3/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
2/4/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
3/4/2026Chelmsford CityFriday
9/4/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
23/4/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
30/4/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
7/5/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
14/5/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
21/5/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
4/6/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
18/6/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
5/7/2026Chelmsford CitySunday
23/7/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
2/8/2026Chelmsford CitySunday
6/8/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
13/8/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
27/8/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
29/8/2026Chelmsford CitySaturday
17/9/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
24/9/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
8/10/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
15/10/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
2/11/2026Chelmsford CityMonday
5/11/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
26/11/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
3/12/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
10/12/2026Chelmsford CityThursday
17/12/2026Chelmsford CityThursday

Chelmsford City Racing Tips

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Chelmsford City Racecourse History

Despite being the newest course in the country, Chelmsford City Racecourse has already made quite a mark!

The course was designed and constructed by entrepreneurs John and Jonathan Holmes, who sought to establish a course serving the communities of Essex, Hertfordshire, and East London, as the nearest venue in the area was Newmarket.

Chelmsford City was due to open in 2006 but, due to delays, did not manage to do so until April 2008, when invited attendees saw Temple of Thebes win the opening race. It was initially known as Great Leighs.

The course, however, drew criticism, as much of the visitor attraction was unfinished and not yet open to the public. Within a year, the administrators were called in and their racing licence was revoked.

Several deals were pitched, but none failed to materialise.

By 2010, the administrators confirmed that they were discussing a new use for the venue so that it wouldn’t remain closed. However, MC Racetracks bought the course in 2011. They were unable to obtain a racing licence immediately. Still, they were granted one for 2015 after a syndicate, headed by Betfred boss Fred Done, managed to convince the British Horseracing Authority to proceed. Some 12 fixtures were set and run.

In 2017, Chelmsford City Racecourse announced plans to build an on-site casino and a new turf course inside the existing track, but neither has yet happened.

Chelmsford City Racecourse Map

Below is a map of Chelmsford Racecourse:

Chelmsford Course Map
Courtesy of At The Races

Chelmsford City Racecourse is an all-weather Polytrack.

It is left-handed, with two sweeping 2f bends and two roughly 2f straights. There are starting chutes for races over 7f, 1m and 2m.

It is considered to be a galloping track with a decent home straight.

If you want to check out previous horse racing results, click here!

Is there a draw bias at Chelmsford Racecourse?

Chelmsford Racecourse is known for its polytrack surface, which provides a fair and consistent racing surface. However, there appears to be a draw bias over certain distances.

What is the Draw Bias at Chelmsford 5 Furlongs?

Based on the analysis of previous races, there doesn’t appear to be a significant draw bias at Chelmsford 5 furlongs. While some may believe that low-drawn runners have an advantage, the stats don’t support this claim.

What is the Draw Bias at Chelmsford 6 Furlongs?

Upon analysis of Chelmsford City Racecourse, it appears that there is no real draw bias at the 6-furlong distance.

Despite previous beliefs that low numbers are favoured, the statistics show that there is no significant advantage for any particular draw.

The course at Chelmsford City provides ample space for horses to position themselves before the bend, and the bends themselves are not as tight as some other all-weather courses.

What is the Draw Bias at Chelmsford 1 Mile?

Based on the analysis, there seems to be no significant draw bias at Chelmsford City Racecourse for races over one mile. It appears that both high and low-drawn horses have an equal chance of winning.

This could be attributed to the broad and sweeping turns at Chelmsford City, which allow horses to move freely and find their ideal position during the race.

Therefore, there is no particular advantage for any specific draw at this distance, and other factors such as form, jockey, and pace will likely have a greater impact on the outcome of the race.

Main Races and Events at Chelmsford City Racecourse

Chelmsford City Racecourse doesn’t have the most packed of race schedules, but it is still a relatively new course and is finding its feet amongst the other 59 horse racing courses in the UK.

Notable races include April’s Cardinal Stakes, run over a mile, May’s Chelmer Fillies Stakes, run over seven furlongs, and June’s Queen Charlotte Fillies Stakes, run over six furlongs.

Chelmsford City Racecourse Address

The official Chelmsford City Racecourse address is:

Chelmsford City Racecourse
Chelmsford
CM3 1QP

How To Get To Chelmsford City Racecourse

The best ways to get to Chelmsford Racecourses are:

  • By car – Chelmsford City Racecourse is just five miles north of Chelmsford and easily accessible by car. All parking on-site is free. Somewhat unusually, sat-nav devices pick up the postcode just fine and will lead you straight to the car park entrance! Details for your sat nav are – Chelmsford Racecourse, Chelmsford City, CM3 1QP.
  • By bus – buses from Chelmsford to Braintree stop close to the course, but are not ideal as there’s a busy dual carriageway to cross upon alighting. However, taxis do regularly pick up from the drop-off point and carry passengers directly and safely to the course.
  • Trains – trains to both Chelmsford and Braintree run regularly from London Liverpool Street.

Hotels near Chelmsford City Racecourse

The nearest hotel to the Chelmsford racecourse is the Holiday Inn Braintree, just a three-minute drive away.

Other hotel options are split somewhat evenly between Chelmsford and Braintree, with some countryside accommodations as well.

As a fairly rural area, you’ll also find some great country pubs with rooms too, including The Compasses, Channels Lodge and The White Hart. As Chelmsford City Racecourse has yet to host many significant events, you shouldn’t struggle too much to book a room in the surrounding areas, even at reasonably short notice.

Check out our guide for the complete list of UK horse racing calendar fixtures for 2024.

Betting Shops Local to Chelmsford City Racecourse

On-site, Chelmsford City Racecourse has several Tote kiosks (at least one in every enclosure) as well as roving Tote staff to help you place a bet even without visiting a dedicated area or shop.

There are also independent bookmakers by the track on race days, but not as many as you may expect to see at other racecourses.

Chelmsford isn’t the most prominent place in the world, but you’ll find branches of Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred in the centre. Braintree has the same as well as branches of William Hill and BetCentral.

Mobile signal in the area is good, so if you’re unable to bet in a shop, you can do so online through your mobile device.

Other Events at Chelmsford City racecourse

Chelmsford City Racecourse is fast becoming a major events venue in Essex, hosting non-racing events as well as standard race days.

The Clockstock Music Festival has taken place here for two consecutive years (with future years planned), and darts evenings, including The Icons of Darts, have proven popular.

The Club restaurant on the course is also worth mentioning positively!

Chelmsford Races

Popular Questions

✅What surface is Chelmsford Racecourse?

The surface at Chelmsford is a polytrack surface.

The tracj is essentially galloping in nature, having broad, sweeping turns. It is a left-handed track of just over a mile around.

✅How do I get to Chelmsford City Racecourse?

The ways to get to Chelmsford Racecourse are:

  • By road – Chelmsford City Racecourse is just five miles north of Chelmsford and easily accessible by car. All parking on-site is free. Somewhat unusually, sat nav devices pick up the postcode just fine and will lead you straight to the car park entrance!
  • By bus – Buses from Chelmsford to Braintree stop close to the course, but are not ideal as there’s a busy dual carriageway to cross upon alighting. However, taxis do regularly pick up from the drop-off point and carry passengers directly and safely to the course.
  • By train – Trains to both Chelmsford and Braintree run regularly from London Liverpool Street.

Summary of Chelmsford City Racecourse

The newest racecourse in the UK, Chelmsford City, is still establishing itself as a venue.

It is starting to build a good reputation as a fun night out, hosting good racing on a quality racing surface.

It is praised for its excellent facilities, and we are delighted to see this newcomer go from strength to strength.

Worth a visit!

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June 2026