Racing at Chelmsford City Racecourse has been brought to an abrupt halt after the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) confirmed on Wednesday that it has refused to grant the new operator a racecourse licence. The venue hosts year-round horse racing alongside a range of other events, including restaurant dining, weddings and major live music shows such as a festival headlined by Justin Timberlake in July. All upcoming fixtures at the Essex track have been cancelled with immediate effect after the BHA rejected an application from new operator Golden Mile Racing Limited (GMRL).

The decision comes after the previous licence holder, Great Leighs Estates Limited (GLEL), entered administration in March. The BHA explained that the fixture held at the racecourse on March 26 went ahead under the previous licence holder, GLEL, and with the administrator’s agreement. However, the licence held by GLEL expired on March 31, and so future fixtures need a new licence holder to be in place.

As a result, fixtures scheduled for early April, including those planned for April 2, 3 and 9, have all been scrapped, with no racing permitted at the venue unless the situation is resolved or a successful appeal is lodged.

A statement said: “GMRL representatives made their case to the Board on March 31. Having considered the matter carefully and taken full account of the points raised, the Board’s position remained that it did not consider it appropriate to grant a racecourse licence for CCR to GMRL. The reasons for this decision are confidential.

“The Board’s decision means GMRL is not licensed to stage any fixtures, pending the outcome of any appeal. This means that, regrettably, no further fixtures will be staged at CCR pending the outcome of any appeal process. This includes the fixtures on 2 April, 3 April and 9 April.”

Golden Mile Racing Limited now has 21 days to appeal the decision through the independent licensing process. The fixtures on April 2 and April 3 will not be rescheduled. Plans for future fixtures including April 9 will be announced in due course, the BHA said.

The regulator added: “The BHA has worked tirelessly with stakeholders to deliver this week’s fixtures. It is regrettable they have been cancelled at such short notice. We recognise this will impact participants – especially trainers, staff and jockeys – as well as racegoers. Further updates as regards this situation will be provided as appropriate.”

Chelmsford City said in a statement addressed to owners and trainers that they met all conditions set by the BHA to transfer the racing licence to new operator Golden Mile Racing Limited, including securing funding, governance changes, and successfully staging a recent fixture without issues. The racecourse claimed the BHA initially accepted these arrangements, but then unexpectedly reversed its position just days before the scheduled races.

Chelmsford City added: “We are not done fighting. Chelmsford City Racecourse is formally challenging this decision through every avenue available to us, including the BHA’s own appeals process.

“We believe the decision was procedurally unfair, contradicts the BHA’s own published rules, and has caused entirely avoidable damage to the sport and everyone who depends on it. “

Opened in 2008, Great Leighs Racecourse entered administration a year later and reopened in 2015 under new ownership.