Great Leighs First Meeting 20th April 2008 Full Coverage

It was a stop start saga to turn John Holmes' pipedream into reality. The first new racecourse Britain had seen since the inception of Taunton in 1927. After obtaining permission and fixtures from the BHA to open an allweather track on the former Essex County Show, they failed to meet deadlines and the fixtures were not fulfilled, but they finally went for it on Sunday 20th April 2008. Millions of pounds had already been spent and a few million more were to come eventually breaking Holmes and forcing premature closure of the venue later to come back as Chelmsford, but for now we can enjoy the inaugural meeting. The day unfolds with Tommo accessing all areas, the weighing room, the temporary grandstand, host to a small and select invited audiance. There were no public at the opening meetings. It is incredible to note that on the day of the first meeting they were still putting up partitions and laying carpets. Jason Weaver presents the action and we even get a drive round the track with Jimmy Fortune. The first race on a new track for 61 years s won by Prince of Thebes for Ed Dunlop with Stevie Donoghue going into the history books. Barry Dennis is there representing the bookmaking fraternity. I was to be invited myself to one of the early meetings and came victim to Mr Denis acerbic wit. There are opinions from joint ruling champions Seb Sanders & Jamie Spencer. Probably the best ride of the opening day comes from Kirsty Milczarek on a rallying Pocket Too when looking beaten. A great supporting card too from ATR presented by the ever dry witted Bob Cooper holding the action together from a trials meeting at Leopardstown and jumping action from Cork and Stratford. The treat of a determined win from AP McCoy on Alright Now M'Lad at Stratford. Settle back and enjoy 5 hours of premium action.

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Absolute Legend.