There’s plenty to do in Essex and many venues to choose from for a day out, but nothing beats a day at the races and Chelmsford City Racecourse provides excellent racing to complement it’s great vibe and entertainment offerings.
Whether you follow horse racing or not, it won’t impact how much fun you can have on a race day. For the uninitiated, you just need to select your horse from an online race card and place your bet on the horse you think will win the next race. The exhilaration of a live horse race really is unparalleled, and you may even win some money!
Racedays
Chelmsford City Racecourse has a lot going for it. Recently opened for racing in 2015, the newest racecourse is Britain is one of only a handful of fully floodlit all-weather courses in the UK. The aesthetic and opulent course is recognised for its beauty, having been shortlisted for design awards.
Whether you’re only intending on attending one day or if you’d prefer a course membership, Chelmsford City offers options for all racegoers. The track itself is designed as a 1700 metre Polytrack oval, with a 400 metre home straight. The home straight provides ample time for spectators to roar home their steeds from the 10,000 seater Grandstand. The added bonus of a premier all-weather course is that rain, wind or shine, you can rest assured that the racing won’t be postponed due to the elements.
Chelmsford City holds the annual Ladies Day in June which oozes decadence and is commonly referenced as the social event of the season. Offering excellent horse racing to compliment the exquisite attire on show, the raceday is topped off with first rate musical performances, including Peter Andre for 2021!
Event Venue
Set across 150 acres of sprawling Essex countryside, Chelmsford City Racecourse is perfect for far more than horse racing. The venue is utilised for wide ranging events such as weddings, corporate dinners and birthdays.
With individual facilities to cater for 40-1000 guests, there’s a place for every event at the site. The Fairwood suite is best for the race lovers with picturesque views surveying the finish line. Allowing huge rays of natural light into the room, it can hold up to 400 guests and is the perfect choice for conferences.
The Sports Bar suite is perfect for athletics lovers and can hold up to 500 people. Many events have been held here, from parties to sportsman’s dinners and they’re always worth a visit if you can get hold of tickets!
One of the highlights of the Essex social calendar which takes full advantage of the venue is Clockstock 2021. The popular music festival offers unmissable entertainment and even boasts seven stages and a secret beach party (shhh – don’t tell anyone!) Tickets are still available for this year’s event and it promises to be a memorable occasion.
Concerts
Music is paramount to the Essex community and Chelmsford City racecourse has developed into a major music venue since it first opened.
The first big name to play at the course was Madness, who headlined a stellar day of racing by performing in front of 7000 fans. In the years since, Chelmsford City have welcomed some huge talents to the course such as Rick Astley, Simply Red and Boyzone.
Long gone are the days where the musical aspect was just a bonus at the end of a day of spectacular racing, the racecourse now welcomes A-List musical attractions to perform of their own accord, such as British chart topper Example in August. It’s not just vocalists who perform, the course also caters for orchestras with Ministry of Sound Classical returning to the Essex venue due to popular demand.
