Skip to Introduction.

Skip to Track Facts.

Skip to Enclosures and Hospitality.

Skip to Disabled Facilities.

Skip to Fixtures.

Skip to Transport Links.

Skip to Contact Details.

Skip to Local Accommodation.

Introduction:

Situated on the site of the old Essex Showground, Great Leighs racecourse is the first completely new racetrack to be built in the United Kingdom since Taunton in September 1927.

Great Leighs is an all weather polytrack, with floodlight facilities for evening racing. It is also the first accredited racecourse to be built in the North Home Counties.

The course is the brainchild of John Holmes, and the four hundred and fifty acre site will eventually house the Racecourse, plus a large equestrian facility, fitness centre, casino, and conference and exhibition facilities.

To respect its showground roots, Great Leighs will stage open air concerts and shows.

The Great Leighs site incorporates the historic and listed Moulsham Hall, and acts as a green belt area between Braintree, and the village of Great Leighs.

In its first year of full operations the racecourse will stage around sixty competitive all weather meetings.

Being only thirty nine miles from the many training centres at Newmarket, Great Lees provides trainers with a short journey for good prizes. On non race days, the track can also be booked for training gallops.

Track facts:

The present course is a left handed exaggerated polytrack oval, which possesses the most gentle bends in British racing. The circuit is just over a mile in circumference, with back and home straights being around two furlongs in length. The winning post is sited in front of the infield grandstand.

A chute start for seven furlong and one mile races is still awaiting construction, and seeding has begun on a grass circuit, but this will take several years to come to fruition.

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Enclosures and hospitality:

The listings below do not include the facilities available to Annual Members, Owners and Trainers, and Corporate Guests. These can be obtained by contacting the racecourse.

In due course, it is planned to have two grandstands at this futuristic racing venue.

Initially, race goers have access to the In Field Grandstand. This impressive semi permanent modern facility is located on the in field area, and directly overlooks most of the final furlong and winning post. Access to the Grandstand and in field areas is gained through a large pedestrian underpass, which connects the facilities to the car park.

The Grandstand offers terraced seating and standing areas, plus five metre wide balconies on its upper level. The ground floor of the grandstand operates as a general racing concourse, with the Long Bar facility serving beers, wines, spirits, and champagnes. There are also smaller bars, food outlets, a betting hall, and covered viewing areas.

On the first floor of the grandstand, there is a large Brasserie, which offers excellent locally sourced meals. After the meal, patrons can use their table as a base for the rest of the race meeting. The Grandstand Brasserie provides excellent viewing of the home straight and winning post, and there is also quick access to the parade ring and winners enclosure.

The paddock area is to the rear of the Grandstand. Looking out from the central area at the back of the stand, the winners enclosure is to the right, fringed by the top turn running rail, the pre parade ring is to the left, and the main parade ring is directly ahead. Situated at the rear of the winners enclosure, there are excellent facilities for owners, trainers, and jockeys.

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Disabled facilities:

Stewards in the main car park will try to site disabled race goers in parking spaces adjacent to the entrances of the underground passageways, which in turn, connect to the in field facilities. The passageways have lifts designed to carry wheelchair patrons up to the main concourse.

In front of the grandstand, near the running rail, a raised viewing platform provides superb views of the closing stages of the racing action.

A separate lift in the grandstand can carry disabled patrons up to the Brasserie and private box facilities on the upper floors.

There are specialist toilet facilities on both levels of the grandstand, plus additional facilities in the paddock toilet block.

Registered assistance dogs may enter the racecourse.

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Fixtures:

Thursday 08 January 2009.

Sunday 11 January 2009.

Tuesday 13 January 2009.

Thursday 15 January 2009.

Thursday 22 January 2009.

Thursday 29 January 2009.

Thursday 05 February 2009.

Thursday 12 February 2009.

Thursday 19 February 2009.

Sunday 22 February 2009.

Thursday 26 February 2009.

Monday 02 March 2009.

Thursday 05 March 2009.

Thursday 12 March 2009.

Tuesday 17 March 2009.

Thursday 19 March 2009.

Thursday 26 March 2009.

Tuesday 31 March 2009.

Thursday 02 April 2009.

Friday 03 April 2009.

Wednesday 08 April 2009.

Saturday 11 April 2009.

Tuesday 14 April 2009.

Thursday 16 April 2009.

Sunday 19 April 2009.

Tuesday 21 April 2009.

Wednesday 29 April 2009.

Thursday 30 April 2009.

Thursday 07 May 2009.

Tuesday 12 May 2009.

Wednesday 27 May 2009.

Thursday 28 May 2009.

Thursday 18 June 2009.

Thursday 25 June 2009.

Tuesday 14 July 2009.

Tuesday 21 July 2009.

Thursday 13 August 2009.

Thursday 20 August 2009.

Tuesday 25 August 2009.

Wednesday 26 August 2009.

Thursday 27 August 2009.

Thursday 03 September 2009.

Thursday 10 September 2009.

Saturday 12 September 2009.

Sunday 13 September 2009.

Thursday 17 September 2009.

Thursday 24 September 2009.

Saturday 26 September 2009.

Thursday 01 October 2009.

Thursday 08 October 2009.

Saturday 10 October 2009.

Sunday 11 October 2009.

Thursday 15 October 2009.

Wednesday 21 October 2009.

Thursday 22 October 2009.

Saturday 24 October 2009.

Thursday 29 October 2009.

Sunday 01 November 2009.

Thursday 05 November 2009.

Friday 06 November 2009.

Thursday 12 November 2009.

Saturday 14 November 2009.

Thursday 19 November 2009.

Thursday 26 November 2009.

Saturday 28 November 2009.

Thursday 03 December 2009.

Saturday 05 December 2009.

Thursday 10 December 2009.

Thursday 17 December 2009.

Sunday 20 December 2009.

Tuesday 29 December 2009.

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TRANSPORT LINKS.

By Road:

The racecourse is situated north of Chelmsford. It is bordered by the A131 Great Leighs by pass, and access to the course car park is gained from that road. Following the signpost, traffic from the South can exit from the north bound carriageway of the by pass. Unfortunately, traffic from the North has to past the racecourse, and then double back onto the north bound carriageway at the Moulsham Hall Lane roundabout.  

The main car park is to the north of the course, and is free of charge to race goers. On particularly busy days, stewards will direct race goers to the overspill car park, located to the West of the racecourse.

By Rail

There are direct train services from London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford railway station which run five times an hour. For evening fixtures the last return train journey leaves Chelmsford at 12.03 a m. There is a large taxi rank outside Chelmsford station, and journey time to the racecourse is around fifteen minutes.

Although Braintree is located nearer to the racecourse, trains to the two Braintree railway stations are less frequent, and only run on an hourly basis from London Liverpool Street station. Taxis are more difficult to obtain, and an advance booking with a local firm is advised.

The Stanstead Express train service runs from London Liverpool Street to Stanstead Airport six times an hour. There is a large taxi rank, and journey time by taxi from the airport station to the racecourse is around fifteen minutes.

By Bus:

First Group operate an hourly service from Chelmsford to Great Leighs, which departs on the half hour. The journey time is around twenty five minutes. The drop off point is near the Green Dragon public house, and is north of the racecourse. Once on foot, follow the footpath towards the racecourse, and use the pedestrian crossing over the A131.

On major race days, a new Hopper bus service runs to the racecourse from Chelmsford bus station, which happens to be adjacent to Chelmsford railway station. For details on the Hopper service, contact the racecourse.

For full information on all national coach connections click the link below.

By Air:

Stanstead Airport is only twelve miles from the course.

Subject to prior permission, helicopters can land at the nearby Moulsham Farm helipad.

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CONTACT DETAILS.

Address: Great Leighs Ltd, The Showground, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1QP.

Tel No: 01245 36 24 12.

Fax No: 01245 86 18 50.

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ACCOMMODATION.

Best Western Atlantic Hotel, Chelmsford.
Tel No: 01245 26 81 68.

Situated in the market town of Chelmsford, the Atlantic Hotel is around fifteen minutes by road from Great Leighs racecourse. The hotel offers a unique blend of modern facilities and traditional service. Guests can choose from  a selection of stylish and ergonomic  bedrooms, including three suites. Guest rooms are en suite, and use modern fabrics to produce warm comfortable surroundings. Each bedroom incorporates a 32 inch flat screen television with 40 free view channels, there are two telephones in each room, and many of the bedrooms are air conditioned. In addition, you will find the little extras of a quality hotel, like an iron and ironing board in each room, and wifi available free of charge throughout the hotel.    

The recently redeveloped New Street Brasserie is a stylish and comfortable restaurant incorporating an air conditioned conservatory area. Guests can enjoy a fine blend of modern and classic cuisine incorporating the colours and flavours of locally sourced produce. The hotel also offers a bar and lounge area which is ideal for those relaxing moments. 

B/W Atlantic Hotel

Best Western Stansted Manor Hotel.
Tel No: 01279 85 98 00.

Nestling in 8 acres of attractive woodland, the Best Western Stansted Manor Hotel is a calm oasis in a busy area of the country. Located a few miles from Great Leighs racecourse, the hotel is close to superb road transport links, and is just 3 miles from Stansted Airport.

The Stansted Manor offers 70 recently refurbished en suite guest rooms, including one executive suite, and seven junior suites. All of the rooms are large and spacious with a contemporary ambience. They all offer remote controlled satellite tv, telephone and modem point, iron and ironing board, and many other amenities you would expect from a quality hotel. Wireless internet access is also available in all of the hotel’s public rooms.

Wyndhams Restaurant offers our guests an excellent selection of high quality cuisine, and for early bird travellers, we can even offer a continental breakfast option from 4 a m. Wyndhams Lounge serves a lite bite menu throughout the day, and our bar is a superb venue to meet, chat, or just relax. For guests who like to keep fit during their stay, we even offer complimentary membership to a nearby Health and Fitness Club. 

B/W Stansted Manor Hotel