Brighton racecourse has regrettably taken the decision to abandon the next two meetings on the 19th & 26th of May, due to the ongoing recovery process of the racing surface which requires further time.
Following discussions with our independent agronomist and further track inspections, we have concluded that the track is not yet fully recovered in affected localised areas. This is despite the positive impact of the ongoing remedial works carried out so far, and which have brought about significant improvement.
Over the past four weeks the entire groundstaff have been working non-stop to address damage caused by a mixture of leatherjackets and nematodes. This was despite our usual pre-season preventative measures, which have been successful previously. The track remedial works since have included scarification, slitting, overseeding, regular watering, cutting and the application of a plant-based substance to help overcome the issue. This has all been in line with the detailed programme we agreed with our highly experienced agronomist.
Safety and the welfare of the participants - equine and human - remains our absolute priority.
We sincerely apologise to all racegoers, stakeholders, sponsors and partners who have been affected by this decision.
Ticket holders for the affected meetings will be contacted directly regarding refunds or transfers where possible.
We are committed to delivering a high-quality racing surface, working closely with our agronomist and grounds team to carry out the comprehensive recovery plan for the track.
Brighton racecourse looks forward to welcoming everyone back, once the track is restored to the excellent standards our participants and visitors expect and deserve.
We are aiming to start our season on Friday 29th of May and further updates will be provided as soon as they are available.
