Musselburgh At Risk of Losing License Without Deal

Troubled Musselburgh Racecourse is back in danger of being left without a license as a deal for Chester to take over the track has still not been signed.

The long-running civil war between members of the East Lothian council and racing representatives appeared to have ended in October when Chester Race Company won the right to run the course as a third-party operator, following an independent governance review insisted upon by the British Horseracing Authority.

The authority has granted Musselburgh a series of temporary licenses through the duration of its troubles and gave the track a three-month extension in December to the end of March in the expectation a deal would be completed.

But one deadline March 1 and a second March 25 passed without the council getting the deal over the line, and the BHA granted Musselburgh another temporary license which runs out May 1.

Although racing everywhere is suspended, should that license not be renewed, Musselburgh would suffer damage to its reputation and also not be in a position to participate in the planning for the resumption of racing behind closed doors.

There is also a fear Chester could walk away from the deal, having won a bidding process from Arena Racing Company and Jockey Club Racecourses.     

Robert Miller-Bakewell, a member of the Musselburgh Racing Associated Committee that runs the track, said: "It's very disappointing that we've reached a situation where once again there's a real prospect of the racecourse being without a license. 

"There's been lots of good intention to get our new operator in place, but unfortunately it's not been matched by the delivery."

Musselburgh councilman Stuart Currie attacked the BHA's decision and claimed the COVID-19 pandemic meant "everything had changed."

"Giving the course monthly extensions causes uncertainty for racing and for the staff, who are effectively on month-to-month contracts because of it," he told the East Lothian Courier.

"We are being asked to negotiate with a third-party operator to take over a racecourse with a license which will run out in a few weeks.

"The BHA is holding the sword of Damocles over the racecourse and its staff and is acting as if nothing has changed when everything has changed.

"What happens if Chester pull out of the deal? Will the BHA take our racing license away and effectively close Musselburgh racecourse? It is a very real concern."

Chester general manager Andrew Morris said: "The issue of the license is between East Lothian Council and the BHA and isn't a matter that we would be willing to comment on, other than to say that from an industry perspective, no one wants to see a racecourse unable to operate because it doesn't have a license.

"We remain committed to taking the operating contract on at Musselburgh, and we understand it's frustrating that the deal has not yet been concluded. But the reality of the situation is that the coronavirus and all that entailed has meant a delay in the process.

"Relations between ourselves and East Lothian Council are very good, and we're working towards concluding a deal."