Hereford Racecourse to re-open this year

HORSE racing will re-commence in Hereford this year, nearly four years after the local racecourse closed.

Arena Racing Company (ARC) which closed Hereford Racecourse in December 2012 has announced that racing will start there again on October 6. There will be four meetings this year and 12 more planned for next year.

The race meets this year have been moved from other courses ARC owns. The October 6 meeting is being moved from Worcester.

When the historic racecourse – which dates back to 1771 – was closed ARC said the venue was no longer viable, citing the recession and the rise of internet betting on other sports.

It also said investing in the course was difficult because it only had a 17-year lease from Herefordshire Council.

ARC said it is currently in the process of recruiting a person to manage Hereford Racecourse.

It said it has committed to make sufficient investment to reopen the current facilities and will work with the council on a long-term lease and future investment programme to ensure the racecourse has a viable future for many years.

Martin Cruddace, ARC chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be reopening Hereford Racecourse which has long been popular with racing fans. We hope this will be seen as a positive development for both the local community and British racing as a whole.”

Councillor Harry Bramer, Herefordshire Council Cabinet member for contracts and assets, said: “The council is delighted to see the reopening of Hereford Racecourse. It is a central part of the local community and will have a beneficial effect on the local area.

“In recent months we have positively engaged with ARC and welcome the investment it is making to bring racing back to the city. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with ARC for the benefit of the county.”