SIX months ago, the future of the newly launched Chelmsford City Racecourse was still uncertain.

Despite an £18 million investment by Betfred owner Fred Done, the spectre of the previous failure on the site – when it was known as Great Leighs Racecourse – still hung over the business.

Clerk of the course Andy Waitt was involved back in April 2008, when the venture opened to great fanfare.

Just nine months later, the site was forced to close when owner John Holmes went bankrupt owing £25 million.

But now, Mr Waitt says the business is going from strength to strength and a further £200,000 has been spent rewaxing the all weather surface, which puts the course alongside Sandown and Kempton as the country’s only all-year track.

He said: “It’s a massive investment. We have had 29 meetings now and we have got some good races this summer.

“The track has been well received by owners and trainers and we have been getting some very good crowds.

“It’s been gradually building.”

The plan from the outset has been to diversify by holding weddings and other events at the site, including antiques fairs and music shows.

Since the course opened on February 1, Mr Waitt said thousands had passed through the gates.

Mr Waitt said: “We had a very successful Madness concert in June and looking to the future we want to host more of those.

“The fixture process for next season is now in the second stage draft.

"We are not sure what we will be getting or how many, but we are hoping to emulate what we had before.

"We have had very favourable feedback from people who have come along to meetings and from owners and trainers."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.