MP's getting involved now
https://beta.racingpost.com/news/mps...kempton/272526
MP's getting involved now
https://beta.racingpost.com/news/mps...kempton/272526
Brothers, David and Adrian Dent who many will recognise from their art on sale at the Cheltenham Festival have been very focused on this, setting up a website and bringing in legal help to explore any holes in the JC argument. Turns out there are plenty and this further development involving MPs is down to them too.
Sir Alan Meale digging out his old question on the JC . I think there are serous issues about the RHT holdings and who paid for them .
http://stable-life.blogspot.be/2017/...wheel.html?m=1
A good piece by John Berry.
By the way, any chance we could rename this thread to something that doesn't make Kempton's closure sound like a fait accompli?
Jockey Club rubbishes 'inaccurate' report of possible reprieve
Scott Burton, Racing Post, 17 Feb 2017
Jockey Club Racecourses has issued the strongest denial that any change is being considered to its proposal to sell Kempton Park for the purpose of building 3,000 new homes.
A story appeared in The Times on Friday morning which suggested that an alternative proposal was under consideration, one which would involve the sale of the eastern portion of the site but spare the area occupied by the racecourse.
The report, which contained no direct quotes, spoke of concern within JCR that the plan to sell the entire site for £100 million was in danger of failing at the planning level and that a less ambitious development of 1,200 homes would have a better chance of gaining the necessary approval.
But a Jockey Club statement said: "Nothing has changed since The Jockey Club announced on 10th January the submission of our full estate at Kempton Park for consideration in Spelthorne Borough Council's Local Plan.
"Any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate. We now await the outcome of Spelthorne's Local Plan Review process."
Last week Spelthorne council leader Ian Harvey reiterated his vehement opposition to the plan, which will not only mean the end of racing at Kempton but the loss of Green Belt land.
In introducing the government's recent planning white paper in the House of Commons, communities secretary Sajid Javid said that Green Belt would only be given over to developers in "exceptional circumstance."
Last edited by simmo; 20th February 2017 at 3:09 PM.
edit
Last edited by simmo; 20th February 2017 at 3:09 PM.
Looking at the festival performances last week and as put up elsewhere it strikes me that if the racing folk want to save this racecourse by showing the importance of the king George festival in the Winter calendar they could target the races there with the most suitable horses ;
Might Bite
Un De Sceaux
Djakadam
Sizing John
etc.
All horses with real speed that would thrill a Festive crowd with their athleticism .
The bookmaker firms could add hefty bonuses to all the rated races for Festival Follow ups and the sport would benefit.
moehat (23rd February 2018)
Great news, but disappointed to see you read the Mail Online, James!
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018
moehat (23rd February 2018)
someone else posted it on twitter
"Beat the price and lose. It's what we do".
SlimChance, March 2018
Good job it's on twitter; wouldn't believe anything in the Daily Fail [I only ever see the front page before I put a copy of the i or Guardian in front of it....]
I don't think the Hate Mail article has any real weight. It has been common knowledge all along that the local council is opposed to the Jockey Club plans but the story won't end there.
BBC reporting same story.
Unveils a 5 year sponsorship plan today
https://www.irishracing.com/news?hea...es&prid=202437
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done
It's hard to know what to make of this news.
On the one hand it's a five year deal, which suggests it's not a purely stopgap arrangement. On the other hand there's no mention of the threat hanging over the course and there's no increase in prize money.
I was thinking the same Grey -token sponsorship but there is potential to beef up that festival and they did an excellent job with the handicap hurdle at Ascot before Christmas.
They have Newbury and Kempton now. Both the premier races for staying chasers prior to the new year
I'd love if there was a way to incorporate a big handicap into a race series and tempt a classy horse to come to play
Some people say he’s the best since Arkle and that’s certainly true when you look at what he’s done