Chelmsford Races Today – Get Latest Chelmsford Tips from Essex Track
Chelmsford is the newest racecourse in the UK and one of the busiest. Its birth was not a smooth one, but you’d never know that from visiting Chelmsford races today with the track hosting a large number of racing, music and corporate events.
This complete guide to Chelmsford City takes you through the history of the course, and provides information on the track and fixtures, alongside a look at the big races for which you can expect to find Chelmsford tips.
History of Chelmsford City Racecourse
This course began life with a different name. In April 2008, the Great Leighs Racecourse opened, in the village of Great Leighs near Braintree, Essex.
It was the first new racecourse to open in the UK since Taunton in 1927, but went into administration less than a year later in January 2009, with its temporary racing licence revoked.
In January 2015 it reopened, under the new name of Chelmsford City. Tryster won the first race, owned by Godolphin, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by Adam Kirby.
Chelmsford City has gone on to establish itself as one of the busiest racecourses in the UK. One reason is the location. There was no racecourse in Essex, nor in neighbouring county Hertfordshire, or nearby East London, so Chelmsford has tapped into a rich catchment area.
Another factor is the proximity to the horse racing hub that is Newmarket in Suffolk, with the largest racehorse training centre in Britain being only 50 miles away. This helps to attract top quality runners, as of course, does the large prize money on offer at Chelmsford.
Over the years the racecourse has established itself as a popular concert venue. Music events initially accompanied race days, but now also hosts standalone concerts, such as the Chelmsford City Live festival.
Is Chelmsford Races Today Jumps or Flat?
Chelmsford hosts All-Weather Flat racing. The course has a left-handed Polytrack oval configuration, with a complete circuit being just over one mile round. Both the home straight and back straight are about two furlongs, with sweeping bends into both.
Entering the back straight, there are chutes for races over seven furlongs and mile/two mile races. For any contest over longer than a mile, the race passes the winning post twice, as the horses go round the oval track.
There is minimal kickback on Polytrack compared to All-Weather track events at other courses, and horses can accelerate on it as they would on a good turf surface. That is a consideration for us here at RacingTipster when we make our Chelmsford City tips.
We don’t think that there’s much of a draw bias at this left-handed track, so that’s not a major issue when we make our predictions for Chelmsford races today.
Key Chelmsford Racecourse Fixtures
With some 38 meetings planned for 2025, you are never too far away from our latest batch of Chelmsford horse racing tips with selections from January to December.
The All-Weather track means that there is action all-year round, with numerous evening race meetings taking place. A Thursday night meeting is particularly popular at Chelmsford.
There are no Group races at this venue, but there are two Listed races, with one taking place around late April or early May and the other in July.
Chelmsford hosts many meetings which combine horse racing with social events, such as their Family Fun Day, Ladies Day and Summer Sessions, which see top dance DJs take to the stage after the racing.
Keep an eye out for our Chelmsford racing tips which will appear at RacingTipster throughout the year.
The Biggest Races We Give Chelmsford Tips for
Some of our Chelmsford horse tips gain more attention than others. Let’s take a look at the biggest races that take place at this racecourse.
Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes
Created as a new Listed race back in 2018, the Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes runs over a distance of seven furlongs for fillies and mares aged four years or older. Prize money for the winner is £56,700 for this event in early July.
The title of the race references the Queen Charlotte Stakes, a race at the old Chelmsford Racecourse, which closed in 1935. Notable winners include Billesdon Brook, who also landed Group races including the Prestige Stakes, 1000 Guineas, Oak Tree Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes.
Cardinal Conditions Stakes
This race runs over a distance of a mile, for three-year-old horses in late March or early April. The winner receives £51,500.
It was first run in 2019, as part of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, where horses earn points to qualify for the first leg of the US Triple Crown.
From 2025, the race will no longer be part of this series, but the winner instead receives entry to the American Turf Stakes. This is another event on the Kentucky Derby card, adding an extra dimension to our Chelmsford City race tips.
Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes
In late April or early May, another Listed race takes place at Chelmsford. The Chelmer Fillies’ Stakes runs over six furlongs for three-year-old females. First held in 2019, the prize money for the winner is £45,300.
Our Chelmsford race tips are likely to take account of the fact that favourites fare well in this race. Between 2021 and 2024 the market leader has always finished in the top two, winning twice.
Chelmsford City Cup
This is a new addition to the races that we cover with our Chelmsford City racing tips, after its inaugural running in 2024. It’s a 0-105 Class 2 handicap run over seven furlongs in August.
The first recipient of the £21,000 first prize was Ararat, a 13-2 shot trained by David Simcock and ridden by Marco Ghiani.
FAQs
Is Chelmsford races on today?
You can find out if there are Chelmsford races today by visiting today’s racecards right here on RacingTipster. If there are Chelmsford race today tips will also be available.
Where is Chelmsford City Racecourse?
Chelmsford City races can be found in the village of Great Leighs in Essex. It is actually slightly nearer the town of Braintree than Chelmsford. Both places have train stations and bus services that run to the course, should you fancy following our Chelmsford tips today.
Where can I find tips and Chelmsford races results today?
You can find tips for Chelmsford in the tomorrow’s racing tips section, if there’s a meeting coming up. Visit the RacingTipster homepage if the track hosts action today. If there are Chelmsford races today results can be found in our fast horse racing results section.
What did they used to call Chelmsford Racecourse?
It used to be known as Great Leighs Racecourse, as it is in the village of Great Leighs in Essex. Closing in 2009 and reopening six years later in 2015 with the current name of Chelmsford City, the site now hosts top class races and numerous music events.