Chelmsford

Chelmsford management point to 'circumstances beyond our control' after racecourse staff receive only 80 per cent of pay
Chelmsford City : hosted Baaeed gallop
Chelmsford will host its first meeting of 2026 on Friday
Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)
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Staff at Chelmsford racecourse received only 80 per cent of their salaries on Wednesday with management blaming the underpayment on "circumstances beyond our control".

The track hosts the first of its 37 scheduled fixtures for 2026 today, with a seven-race card taking place on the all-weather during the afternoon.

Affected staff working for Chelmsford, which the Racing Post understands totals approximately 40 people, were informed by Neil Graham, director of racing at the track, via a message on Wednesday afternoon that they would not be paid in full, but that efforts were being made to resolve the matter.

Graham wrote: "Dear all. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the company is only in a position to pay everyone 80 per cent of their salary today with the remaining 20 per cent to be paid no later than next Friday, January 9.

"We have been working tirelessly to overcome this issue and can only apologise for the inconvenience that it may cause. Should any of you be suffering undue hardship as a result of this circumstance, then please contact either [head of finance, operations and resource] Sarah Ridgway, or myself, and we will endeavour to help you.

"I offer you all my sincerest apologies and I assure you that we will be working to get everyone paid as soon as possible."

Graham declined to comment when contacted by the Racing Post on Thursday.

Accounts for Great Leighs Estates Limited, the company which operates Chelmsford racecourse, are overdue on Companies House with filings for the year ending August 2024 having been required by November 27 last year.

In its most recent filing in August 2023, the company reported a loss of £11.86 million in the previous 12 months.

Problems at Chelmsford also emerged in October last year, when a pre-racing stalls test was cancelled after the private medical provider required to oversee action at the venue refused to attend due to a dispute with the track. The fixture scheduled for later the same day did go ahead after an agreement was reached.