Newbury chief says racing and housing can work together after Kempton reprieve

The man who spent nearly 12 years as Kempton's managing director has pointed to Newbury, the track he now runs, as a shining example of how a racecourse can flourish alongside a residential development on its land.

Julian Thick, who left Kempton in September 2006 having overseen the creation of the venue's floodlit all-weather track, was reacting to the Jockey Club announcing a secondary plan to introduce 550 homes, down on the original estimate of 3,000 that would have necessitated the closure of Kempton, best known for staging the King George VI Chase.

Thick has been in charge since late 2013 at Newbury, whose finances were strengthened by the building of over 700 houses and flats.