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27 Jul 12
11:06
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Hereford gone
Folkstone on the brink |
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NORTHERN & ARENA RACING GROUP MEDIA RELEASE
Strictly embargoed until 11.00am, Friday, July 27, 2012 HEREFORD AND FOLKESTONE RACECOURSES TO CEASE TRADING Arena Leisure and Northern Racing has today announced the permanent closure of Hereford Racecourse and the temporary closure of Folkestone Racecourse. The company has today set out plans to cease trading at Hereford and Folkestone racecourses at the end of the 2012 season. The racecourse fixtures currently staged at Hereford and Folkestone will be transferred to other racecourses within the enlarged group. The company stated that Folkestone may re-open in the future, subject to on-going negotiations with Shepway Council. Tony Kelly, Managing Director of the enlarged Group, said: "Hereford is owned by Herefordshire County Council and run under a lease arrangement. "Attempts to extend the lease, which has 17 years remaining, have been unsuccessful. Despite being unviable for several years we have supported the racecourse but much-needed investment, required to breathe new life into the racecourse, cannot be justified in the absence of a long-term future for the business. "Folkestone suffers from out-dated facilities and has been the subject of detailed discussion between the previous management, Arena Leisure, and Shepway District Council for several years now. "The proposal for the site incorporated significant residential development, which would have enabled a new racecourse to be constructed with much enhanced amenities. "However, these plans have been delayed following the recent Examination in Public of the local plan. Discussions will continue with Shepway District Council in the hope that there will be approval of development plans which would secure the future of the racecourse. If they succeed, work to reconfigure the racecourse could commence in 2013. "Every effort to continue trading at these racecourses has been explored but it is with regret that a variety of circumstances means that this is no longer possible, therefore both Hereford and Folkestone racecourses will therefore cease trading at the end of the 2012 season. "The fixtures will be transferred to other racecourses within the group, where we will be able to offer increased prize money and better quality facilities for connections and racegoers alike." Contacts Tony Kelly - Managing Director - 020 7802 5120 Kate Hills - PR & communications Director - 07813 947201 |
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Where will the bookmakers get the racing from to cover the shortfalls....
Great Leighs possibly for more all weather fodder? Or "The Valley Of Speed" with the virtual champion jockey Kieren Dettori and whatever silly names they have |
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^ Didnt read the whole post...silly me...
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Sign of the times . Racing in a fairly parlous state in UK . And no-one seems to care outside of a few .
Government plus authorities seem to have other priorities . Heritage etc does not figure anywhere in their thinking . |
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Racing For Change prefers the term 'rested' rather than 'closed'
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No doubt Folkestone racecourse will be one big detention centre for all the illegals that come swimming across the channel, and sit there for 5 years waiting for their app to seek asylum to be accepted
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I kow they they've been trying to get rid of that straight-track stands' rail bias at Folkey, but bl00dy hell, this is a bit drastic.
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I suppose this was always going to happen when so many smaller tracks were under the same ownership.
If the option is there to retain the fixtures and transfer them to other tracks within the group then surely they will end up keeping all their fixtures whilst maintaining the fewest tracks possible to stage them. A very straightforward way to save costs without impacting much on revenue. On the plus side the demise of Folkestone now puts me within touching distance of completing the full set of tracks! |
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So in theory re folkestone
"However, these plans have been delayed following the recent Examination in Public of the local plan. Discussions will continue with Shepway District Council in the hope that there will be approval of development plans which would secure the future of the racecourse. If they succeed, work to reconfigure the racecourse could commence in 2013. The gaff will be closed for a year, what sort of state will it be in if they do decide to reopen? Jesus wept |
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lads this is serious ..these are low grade courses ...that make up the very fabric of british racing , not every horse can be top class , so the need for courses like hereford and folkestone and some others to continue to race speaks for itself ...trainers who are having a tough time of it ..apart from the chosen few that is...will find it even harder to keep the ship afloat ... did arena buy these tracks simply as property to resell as part of their property portfolio , and have now had their fingers burnt i wonder...?
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how the **** has someone managed to get illegal immigrants onto this thread?
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Gutted. Folkestone is my local track.
Sure its a bit run down and the racing is pretty ordinary but its a cracking night out in the summer and when it escapes the frost (long shaded area down the back straight always a problem) the jumping is always fun. Very sad - no racing in Kent any more. Why the hell do we have to keep the fixtures ? Too much poor racing which is half the problem. |
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27 Jul 2012 09:04
BHA statement regarding the announced closure of Folkestone and Hereford racecourses Paul Bittar, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said: “This decision is a matter for Northern Racing and Arena Leisure. We recognise and respect the commercial pressures that lie behind it. "While British Racing is immensely popular on many levels, and enjoyed record attendances last year, the fact is that the sport's financial model remains badly outdated. This undoubtedly makes life very difficult for all who depend on the sport for their living and it also impacts upon racecourses, particularly smaller ones. “We are encouraged to learn that the fixtures transferred as a result of the closures will benefit from increased prize money, but the priority for the whole sport remains the modernisation of our funding mechanism to underpin the future of British Racing and ensure a fair return for all participants.” For more information contact: Robin Mounsey British Horseracing Authority t:02071520048 m:07584171551 e: rmounsey@britishhorseracing.com |
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Has this been on the cards for a while? I had absolutely no idea it was that bad.
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I think the timing is significant, just a couple of weeks after the boycott at Worcester
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i thought tracks was a formulite
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"The fixtures will be transferred to other racecourses within the group, where we will be able to offer increased prize money and better quality facilities for connections and racegoers alike."
I'll believe that when I see it. |
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Which tracks will be next? Sedgefield and Worcester will be nervous I reckon.Chepstow as well perhaps???
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lets just hope the people of kent fight hard to make sure folkestone reopens soon.regarding hereford very sorry to see the end of racing there ,i have had many happy days there in the winter.
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redcar also likely in the near future
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jimnast they're 2 of the tracks i've never visited ..i'll have to get my skates on now....
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jimnast they're 2 of the tracks i've never visited ..i'll have to get my skates on now....
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If you want to see the future see how Greyhound racing went.
The tracks are owned by "businesses" now. No additional activities no future. To make investment worthwhile they need to operate 365 days a year - then when the other activities make more of the income the racing gets marginalised. It will see me out but I fear for my grandchildren! |
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Hopefully its not over for Folkestone. My mate is a reporter on the Herald down there I'll mobilize the troops!
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very sad indeed hope there is a re-think
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No chance of a rethink, in fact there will be more closures..
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Sadly guinness is correct.
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sad to hear, you couldnt get a better clerk than Neil McKenzie Ross...the best clerk in UK and Ireland for me.
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workrider
i was at folkestone last night in fact just set of for home 15 mins ago,make sure you get to go there before it closes its a wonderfull racecourse, |
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From sportinglife.com (sorry posted on another thread
 )Hereford and Folkestone to close Last Updated: July 27 2012, 11:33 BST Arena Leisure and Northern Racing has announced the permanent closure of Hereford racecourse and the temporary closure of Folkestone racecourse. Hereford: Set to be shutdown by Arena Leisure and Northern Racing Related Content Live horse racing results Racecards and form Latest non-runners Latest video replays Attempts to extend Hereford's lease from Herefordshire County Council have been unsuccessful, while plans are also in place for Folkestone to cease trading at the end of the 2012 season. Tony Kelly, managing director of Arena and Northern Racing, said Folkestone may reopen in the future - subject to on-going negotiations with Shepway Council. Kelly said: "Hereford is owned by Herefordshire County Council and run under a lease arrangement. "Attempts to extend the lease, which has 17 years remaining, have been unsuccessful. "Despite being unviable for several years we have supported the racecourse but much-needed investment, required to breathe new life into the racecourse, cannot be justified in the absence of a long-term future for the business. "Folkestone suffers from outdated facilities and has been the subject of detailed discussion between the previous management, Arena Leisure, and Shepway District Council for several years now. "The proposal for the site incorporated significant residential development, which would have enabled a new racecourse to be constructed with much enhanced amenities. "However, these plans have been delayed following the recent Examination in Public of the local plan. "Discussions will continue with Shepway District Council in the hope that there will be approval of development plans which would secure the future of the racecourse. "If they succeed, work to reconfigure the racecourse could commence in 2013." Racecourse fixtures currently staged at Hereford and Folkestone will be transferred to other racecourses within Arena and Northern Racing. Kelly said: "Every effort to continue trading at these racecourses has been explored but it is with regret that a variety of circumstances means that this is no longer possible, therefore both Hereford and Folkestone racecourses will therefore cease trading at the end of the 2012 season. "The fixtures will be transferred to other racecourses within the group, where we will be able to offer increased prize-money and better quality facilities for connections and racegoers alike." Northern Racing is owned by businessmen David and Simon Reuben, who bought out Arena Leisure plc in March 2012. Arena and Northern Racing is now Britain's largest racecourse group. The two racecourses - Hereford is a National Hunt track while Folkestone stages both Flat and Jumps racing - will be the first to shut in Britain since Great Leighs lost its licence in 2009. |
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Now maybe Charlie mann and give me brigade will sit up and take notice of the Depressing reality of this Finacial collapse. Leave racetracks to there own methods!
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1m6f equals 2m
thats the spirit |
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just texted my journo mate - it's all over for Folkestone.
Course needs refurb , can only be funded by housing redevelopment and the council have been beasted for supporting the development. Will take 5-7 years anyway. RIP Folky |
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.these are low grade courses ...that make up the very fabric of british racing
Eactly...A winner is a winner....The likes of Peter Grayson + Ann Stokell celebrate a class 6 winner just as much as probably the top boys do with a G1... If not more so.. |
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Scooper this sticky keyboard problem must be resolved
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Nightmare for our two 'local' trainers Linda Jewell and John Best - Linda ran most of her jumpers at Folky.
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doubt Chepstow would ever go for the simple reason of the Welsh national to be honest...
They run the Lincoln H'cap at Doncaster. Why not the Welsh National at Newcastle? |