Jo Flaherty, head of charity and community at Chelmsford City Racecourse, said, “We are proud to be supporting our armed forces locally and further afield by giving them the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary raceday experience. I am looking forward to not only celebrating our armed forces but raising vital funds for the Royal British Legion as we continue with our ongoing commitment to engage with charities and the local community.”

Laura Gibbs, the community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion in Essex, said, “Life in the armed forces comes with unique challenges for those serving and their families, both during and after service, and the RBL is there every step of the way throughout their lives whenever they need us.”

Along with the racing action, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony, a performance from the Military Wives choir and live band, sponsored by Lookers Ford. The Mayor of Chelmsford, Linda Mascot, will also be in attendance.

Past and present service personnel can apply for two complimentary general admission tickets for the day. Under 18s can also attend for free.

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The racecourse will be the first in Britain to stage turf racing under floodlights during mixed meetings on the grass and all-weather surfaces at the Essex venue. Revised designs for a new multi-purpose grandstand are also being crafted by architects HOK. Those grandstand plans will feature bars, restaurants, conferencing areas and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic views across the racecourse. Permission was also granted to build an additional 350 stables which, alongside the retained 250+ acres, opens up the potential for a state-of-the-art training facility at the course.

The “garden village” development features around 1,200 new homes, a school, a NHS medical centre, community centre, and retail units. It is part of the council's Great Leighs Strategic Growth Area, and there are other plans in the works in the vicinity for a new train station and road network.

John Rhodes, Design Director of HOK International, said, “This will be a wonderful long awaited addition to such a successful racecourse. The original designs still resonate, but this is a wonderful opportunity to push the boundaries of what a modern racecourse destination could be. The project will stimulate the local economy, creating jobs and further raising the profile of the City.”

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Launched in 2019 by the enterprising team at the Essex track, which continues to punch well about its weight on the prize-money front, the Cardinal's three winners to date (there was no race in 2020 during the pandemic) have not taken up the challenge for Churchill Downs. This year, however, two of the 11 declared runners have already earned points elsewhere, and a win on Saturday, which is worth 30 points, would have both sets of connections seriously considering a trip to Kentucky in early May.

Leading the charge in this regard is Middleham Park Racing's Brave Emperor (Ire) (Sioux Nation), who has already given his syndicate of owners much cause for cheer by winning five of his seven starts to date, including the Listed Prix de la Californie at Cagnes-sur-Mer followed by Kempton Park's 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' Conditions S. on March 15, for which he earned 20 points for the American Classic. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) accrued the same number of points for winning Dundalk's Listed Patton S. and was subsequently tenth in the G2 UAE Derby on Saturday. 

“It's been a bit of a whirlwind,” Middleham Park Racing's Tom Palin told TDN. “It only really came on our radar since he got his head in front at Kempton. I must admit it was never really something we had thought about, or a careful piece of race placement to try to target him at the Kentucky Derby. But when he won at Kempton we realised that he picked up 20 points and we were made aware that he was joint-top of the European series with Cairo, and then Cairo didn't pick up an extra points at the weekend.”

Middleham Park Racing also fields the George Scott-trained four-time winner Coco Jack (Ire) (Wings Of Eagles {Fr}), who was previously fifth to Brave Emperor at Kempton, while Charlie Appleby is represented by the treble winner and 101-rated Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). James Tate's unbeaten Iconic Moment (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}), recent winner of the Listed Spring Cup at Lingfield and a dual scorer at Chelmsford, looks likely to start favourite. 

Palin continued, “Obviously we need to see what happens on Saturday. It looks a very competitive race, and I even think our other horse, Coco Jack, could come in and upset the applecart. George is very bullish about him. It's a super-competitive race but if he picks up enough points to secure his berth, that's when the syndicate will have to have a bit of a grown-up chat. There would still be the small matter of about $30,000 to run and more than that to get him across there and back. But as the saying goes, 'you've got to be in it to win it', and that's exactly what we did last Monday, we put him in there. Everybody has heard of the Kentucky Derby, everybody wants to run for the roses, so if you've got a secure berth it's certainly something one should be having a serious conversation about.”

BRAVE EMPEROR is on the European Road to the #KyDerby! pic.twitter.com/5BoUL4FO9z

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) March 15, 2023

A stellar 2022 season saw another of the Middleham Park Racing syndicates win the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye with The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who was subsequently sold for 1.2 million gns to Katsumi Yoshida. She has remained in training for the leading Japanese owner and has been switched from Richard Fahey's stable to that of Roger Varian.

Eddie's Boy (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) was another to carry the silks with aplomb, winning the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint and the G3 Prix Eclipse, and finishing second in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte. He was sold at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale for 320,000gns to continue his career in Qatar. The Middleham Park Racing model clearly raises the possibility of Brave Emperor being fully or part-sold should he earn a start at Churchill Downs. 

“Absolutely,” Palin agreed. “The decision is ultimately up to the people in the syndicate. It's not what we want to do, it's what the owners want to do. But they also want to fund their racing for the next four or five years so in some ways the ideal scenario for everybody would be if we were to partner up with somebody, perhaps an American client who wanted a runner in Kentucky Derby and was interested in taking half. 

“Getting him there would wipe out all of the prize-money he has earned so far, and that represents several years' racing for the owners. But it really is very special stuff to be able to talk about it. We were at the Cheltenham Festival after Red Risk had run there and we just finishing up in the bar when Brave Emperor won at Kempton. It was a bit surreal, thinking we were standing there at Cheltenham and suddenly we had the possibility of the Kentucky Derby.”

He added, “He's been fantastic and what's really quite special is that the vast majority of the owners who are involved in Brave Emperor were involved in Eddie's Boy as well. So they are having a real time of it at the moment, they're living the dream.”

Archie Watson, who trains Brave Emperor, a gelded grandson of Scat Daddy, said, “How many times do you get the opportunity to have a runner in a race like that? Personally, I feel he would probably suit the Preakness more, but he's done nothing wrong. On pedigree you'd probably say that it would be worth giving the dirt a try, and also on the way he runs, because he does tend to grind it out. That style of running should suit the dirt, but I guess there are a lot of unknowns, like going up two furlongs for the Derby.

“He's as tough as nails and we definitely haven't got to the bottom of him. He responds well and is tough in a battle.”

He added, “I know he's a Listed winner already but I'd say Saturday will be his hardest test yet. With the Godolphin horse coming in and another horse who has won his last three that we haven't met yet, it looks a strong race. I haven't seen the betting but I'd be hopeful he'll confirm his form with the others, for all that it might be close.”

It was a bit surreal, thinking we were standing there at Cheltenham and suddenly we had the possibility of the Kentucky Derby

Among Brave Emperor's rivals, and with six Kentucky Derby points to his credit following his third-place finish behind Cairo in the Patton S., is the Charles Fipke homebred Stormy Entry (Point Of Entry). Having made his debut when second at Dundalk on December 16, he has subsequently won twice there under the tutelage of the man best known as a breeze-up maestro, Willie Browne.

“Mr Fipke is a sportsman, and he likes his racing, so he wants to give it a go,” said Browne, who also trained the Listed Star Appeal S. winner Spirit Gal (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) for the same owner-breeder last season.

“The handicapper would suggest that we have little chance but he's a nice horse and I'm sure that even though he does look like one of the lesser ones in the field he'll probably give a good account of himself. A truly-run race would suit him, he's in good form, and he travelled over well [Thursday morning], so we're going to give it a go.”

Stormy Entry is also luring leading jockey Seamie Heffernan across the Irish Sea on Saturday.

Browne added, “Having Seamie is a plus for us as he knows the horse and he likes him, so why not?

“I think he has improved and the style of racing in Chelmsford in particular–they seem to go a good gallop–would suit him, but that said this does look tough and we probably haven't the best draw. Mr Fipke loves his horses and he bred this horse. Needless to say, if something did happen, he's be on his way to Kentucky in a hurry. It's ambitious, but you never know.”

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17.30 Chelmsford City, Nov, £13,999, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Michael Tabor's WIGMORE STREET (American Pharoah) is an unraced half-brother to two black-type performers out of GI Matron S. heroine Marylebone (Unbridled's Song) and starts out for the Simon and Ed Crisford yard in this 11-runner contest. He encounters Godolphin's once-raced winner Tagabawa (GB) (New Approach (Ire), who is a Charlie Appleby-trained homebred son of MG1SP G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches third Tasaday (Nayef).

HOW THEY FARED
14.25 Lingfield, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, f, 7f 1y (AWT)
Godolphin homebred Star Guest (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a daughter of MGSW G1 Prix d'Ispahan third Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal), hit the front inside the final furlong, but was collared by Glory Lily (GB) (Shamardal) in the dying strides and finished a neck second to that Charlie Appleby-trained stablemate.

16.30 Kempton, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, 8f (AWT)
Fitri Hay's newcomer Clan Chieftain (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a full-brother to this year's GI Man O' War S. hero Highland Chief (Ire), was never a factor on debut and finished just over nine lengths behind the winner in 10th.

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Leading the sextet is Godolphin's Blue Trail (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who already holds 20 points, as he triumphed in Kempton Park's 'Road To The Kentucky Derby' Conditions S. on Mar. 2. Second and third that day were Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Harrow (Ire) (El Kabeir) and Prince Faisal's Find (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Charlie Appleby said, “It's great that Chelmsford are doing a good job in staging a race of this value at this point of the season. I am glad it's being supported: it might not be big numbers but I am a big believer that you don't need numbers to make a good race if you get good horses, and I think they've done that.

He added “We've come out of the [Kempton] race well. What we've done this time is that we are going to remove the hood in the hope that it might just sharpen him up a little. But the preparations have gone well and obviously Harrow and Find are entitled to come forward a bit for their runs, but we are all going

there with good experience under our belts and may the best horse win.”

The field also includes the listed-winning Mr Professor (Ire) (Profitable {Ire}), who is trained by Alice Haynes for Amo Racing Limited. He will run in cheek pieces for the first time.

“We've got a good draw and the French style of racing didn't

really suit him,” she said. “I think he's better with an end-to-end gallop and Chelmsford is much more of a speed track. It is a very valuable race for this time of year. It was an obvious decision to run in it.”

Dark Moon Rising (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) from the Kevin Ryan yard and the maiden Atheby (GB) (Gutaifan {Ire}) from Jane Chapple-Hyam will also line up.

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The Listed Queen Charlotte S., which was first run in 2018 with a prize fund of £75,000, has been boosted to £100,000. The same six-figure pot is on offer for the Cardinal S., which features as the last leg on the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, earning points towards the American Classic for the winner and placed horses.

The Listed Chelmer Fillies' S. has also received an increase in funding and is up from £60,000 to £80,000, while Chelmsford's card on Good Friday features £112,000 in prize-money across seven races, including a £30,000 Class 2 handicap.

From February, the total prize fund for handicaps will be as follows:

• Class 2 £25,000
• Class 3 £15,000
• Class 4 £13,000
• Class 5 £10,000
• Class 6 £7,300

The boost in purses means that Class 6 handicaps will carry at least £1,000 more per race than those run at tracks owned by Arena Racing Company (ARC) or Jockey Club Racecourses. As a comparison, Class 4 and 5 handicaps at ARC courses are currently run at £9,850 and £7,100. The increases announced by the independently-owned Chelmsford City represent an average upturn in executive contributions of 80% on figures for 2021.

Chelmsford City's director of racing Neil Graham said, “It has long been our desire to improve the quality of racing on offer here at Chelmsford, as well as ensuring decent returns for the owners, trainers and jockeys who support our racecourse week in and week out.

“The Queen Charlotte is one of two Listed races that we are proud to stage at the track, and we are thrilled to be offering a very valuable pot for that this year. The same goes for the Cardinal Stakes, which is clearly not just an important stepping stone for connections, who may have their sights set on Churchill Downs, but also offers a great trial opportunity for our Classics closer to home–and with a huge prize on offer. We look forward to welcoming entries for both races, as well as for our regular cards throughout the year.”

Newmarket-based Charlie Fellowes won the inaugural running on the Queen Charlotte Stakes with Carolinae (GB) (Makfi {GB}) and has been one of a number of British trainers to have been vocal in his concern for declining prize-money in Britain.  

He said: “Chelmsford have always made it very clear that decent prize-money is something they prioritise highly and on the all-weather especially they have very much led the way. We were lucky enough to win the Queen Charlotte on what was then the richest evening meeting in Britain. At a time when competition globally is becoming ever more fierce and Britain is getting left behind, it's encouraging to see Chelmsford really doing their bit in trying to make the situation as sustainable and competitive as possible on the domestic front.”

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A statement from the Racecourse Association was released on Monday and it read, “Further to recent speculation, the RCA can confirm that there are currently no plans to introduce mandatory Covid certification at British racecourses other than in devolved nations where venues are already required to facilitate the initiative when attendances reach a certain limit.

“We remain in close contact with the appropriate departments across national governments to ensure all British racecourses are at the forefront of relevant information should the situation change.

“In the interim, the RCA will continue to follow the advice given by national governments and provide guidance to our member racecourses, allowing them to safely welcome spectators and participants.”

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“John Bozza, Chief Executive at RaceTech said, “I am delighted we have signed this agreement that supports our vision to be the technical partner of choice for UK horse racing. RaceTech has unrivalled experience in the delivery of these essential race day services and we look forward to continuing and growing, our long standing relationship with Chelmsford City Racecourse.”

Fraser Garrity, Racecourse Manager, Chelmsford City Racecourse said, “We have a busy racing schedule at CCR and it’s vital that our raceday operations run smoothly.  So, we’re very happy to extend our partnership with RaceTech and will continue to benefit from their expertise across a wide range of raceday services.”

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