Musselburgh faces losing licence to race with takeover deal still not in place

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

The long-running civil war between the East Lothian councillors and racing representatives appeared to have ended last 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 BHA.

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

But one deadline on March 1 and a second on March 25 passed without the East Lothian Council getting the deal over the line and the BHA granted Musselburgh another temporary licence which runs out on May 1.

Although racing everywhere is currently suspended, should that licence not be renewed Musselburgh would suffer reputational damage 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 currently 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 licence.

"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 councillor 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 licence 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 licence away and effectively close Musselburgh racecourse? It is a very real concern."

Chester general manager Andrew Morris said: "The issue of the licence 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 licence.

"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.

Andrew Morris: 'We remain committed to taking the operating contract on at Musselburgh'Credit: David Carr

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

Explaining the decision to grant no more than a temporary licence, a BHA spokesman said: "Given the history of the situation it was not felt appropriate to grant a longer extension than one month.

"We now understand that despite a lengthy tender process and a licence extension to provide a further month to finalise the process, the deal to appoint a third party operator has not been completed. There have been constructive discussions with the appropriate parties this afternoon in order to establish the status of the situation, and the matter will be discussed at the BHA board on April 30.

"Throughout, the BHA has gone to great lengths to ensure a suitable outcome where the governance and operation of Musselburgh is fit and appropriate to be licensed as a racecourse under the Rules of Racing, and the board will consider a further extension to the licence next week."

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