Thursday, September 16, 2004
KEMPTON PARK GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR FLOODLIT ALL WEATHER TRACK
Following the submission of a fully detailed application to Spelthorne Borough Council, last night the Council's Planning Committee voted to grant planning permission to the Kempton scheme subject to a legal agreement.
The permission includes the provision of a state of the art ten-furlong floodlit all weather track, additional car parking, improved access arrangements to the site, improvements to the local public transport facilities, new stables and a new veterinary complex.
Julian Thick, Managing Director Kempton Park, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this planning permission. Our neighbours and the local authority have been very supportive to the racecourse all through the planning process.
With planning permission granted we can now enter into discussions with the British Horseracing Board to ensure that fixtures can be made available. We will be making an application to the new racecourses committee as soon as we are allowed to.
We believe a state of the art floodlit all weather track at Kempton Park is not only good for the racecourse but it will also be good for racegoers, the betting industry, owners and our media partners. Our proposals are aimed at building Europe's outstanding all weather track and we are grateful that Spelthorne Borough Council appreciated the importance of this both to us and the racing industry.
Obviously there is a lot of work to do before our plans can become reality, but this is a very significant step in the right direction and keeps us on track to open our AWT in January 2006."
BHB SUMMER JUMPING CHAMPION SET TO BE UNVEILED
BHB's Summer Jumping Champion will be announced on Saturday week, the award celebrating the top performer in the code ahead of the forthcoming Winter Jumping season.
As the 2004 Summer Jumping season reaches a climax at Market Rasen's Blue Square Equinox Meeting on 25 September, BHB will recognise the horse that has demonstrated an impact on Summer Jumping and contributed, through its performances, to raising the profile of the sport. This new initiative complements the Jump Racing Review, which pointed to the advantages of creating a greater distinction between the Summer and Winter Jumping seasons.
A panel of industry experts has drawn up a longlist of seven horses that fit the criteria above:
Horse - Trainer
First Ballot - David Elsworth
Mr Ed - Peter Bowen
Montreal - Martin Pipe
Numitas- Philip Hobbs
River City - Noel Chance
Sardagna - Martin Pipe
Take The Stand - Peter Bowen
A shortlist of three will be drawn up, with the connections of each to be invited to Market Rasen on Saturday week. A presentation will be made on the day to the winning horse, trainer and owner, and BHB Marketing Director Chris John will present the stable staff of the Summer Jumping Champion with a cheque for £35,000.
The industry panel was made up as follows:
Pip Adams - Market Rasen Racecourse
Chris John - BHB Marketing Director
Stephen Lambert - Stratford Racecourse
Pat Masterson - Newton Abbot Racecourse
Charlie Moore - Uttoxeter Racecourse
Ian Renton - Worcester Racecourse
Phillip Smith - BHB Senior National Hunt Handicapper
Howard Wright - Associate Editor, Racing Post
BHB Marketing Director Chris John said: "Summer Jumping is thriving, and the 2004 season has witnessed some outstanding performances. As attention starts to turn to the prospect of an exciting Winter Jumping season ahead, it is great that we are going to acknowledge a Summer Jumping Champion, and I amdelighted that BHB will be recognising the connections of the winner and financially rewarding the stable staff with this new initiative."
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