New Chelmsford team deserve praise for turning around a once sorry story

Chelmsford, or Great Leighs as it then was, is the only racecourse from which I have been physically removed.

I have not been back since the day of my ejection, although for largely unconnected reasons. Even from a distance it is obvious the progress made in racing's Essex heartland has been quite remarkable and those responsible deserve considerable praise.

A decade ago, on Sunday, April 20, 2008, I attended the first fixture staged at Great Leighs. On reflection, the article written that afternoon was too upbeat, influenced by a feeling of empathy towards owner John Holmes and all those working with him. The troubled track was opening nearly two years behind schedule. Much hard graft had been done, vast sums of money had been spent and one wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.