The British Horseracing Authority confirmed on Wednesday that it has refused to grant Golden Mile Racing Limited a racecourse licence, halting racing at Chelmsford City Racecourse. All upcoming fixtures at Chelmsford City Racecourse have been cancelled with immediate effect. Fixtures scheduled for early April, including those planned for April 2, 3 and 9, have been scrapped.
The fixtures on April 2 and April 3 will not be rescheduled. The scheduled card at Chelmsford City on Good Friday was one of the most valuable at the course all year, with £250,000 in prize money. The previous licence holder, Great Leighs Estates Limited, entered administration in March.
Golden Mile Racing Limited now has 21 days to appeal the decision through the independent licensing process. The British Horseracing Authority stated that the reasons for the decision are confidential. Chelmsford City said in a statement that they met all conditions set by the BHA to transfer the racing licence to Golden Mile Racing Limited.
Justin Timberlake's concert at the track on July 4, 2025, led to chaotic scenes with 25,000 fans, forcing some to queue for up to four hours and others to abandon their cars. A legal action arising from the Justin Timberlake concert was settled out of court. The crowd capacity for gigs at Chelmsford City was lowered after the Justin Timberlake concert.