New twist for London track plan

Graham Cunningham13 April 2012

The £100 million racecourse planned for a site 15 miles east of London could yet be built - in the Middle East.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott rejected the proposals to build Britain's first new racecourse for over 70 years on a 345-acre site at Fairlop Waters in Essex two weeks ago.

However, today it emerged that the executives behind the plan are to launch an appeal against the decision in the High Court.

In addition, the Wiggins Group are also considering an invitation to abandon their plans to build in London in favour of an audacious offer to site their state-of-the-art development at an unspecified location in the Middle East.

Oliver Iny, chief executive of the Wiggins Group, said that the offer to resite the Lord Foster-designed grandstand abroad was first made three months ago. He said: "We were approached directly by the ruler of this state, who came to see me and offered the land and all the resources to replicate this unique racecourse in every detail in his country.

"He repeated his offer by letter a few days ago, and if our appeal against the decision to build in London fails, then we will obviously give this alternative plan very serious consideration."

Wiggins, having taken advice f rom leading counsel, have been advised that they have a strong case for an appeal based on the suggestion that Mr Prescott's decision was inconsistent with the findings of the 13-month public inquiry into the Fairlop Waters project chaired by Inspector Brian Sims.

Iny added: "We will be making a formal application to the High Court later this week, and it seems that after the long delays waiting for Mr Prescott's initial decision the appeal could be decided on as early as December.

"We have always been determined to give London the landmark racecourse it deserves. Our hearts are still set on doing just that, but if it isn't to be then it seems that we will be heading off to build it elsewhere."

Meanwhile, connections of last year's runaway Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sakhee are looking for the five-year-old to show his old fire on the gallops before deciding on whether he will head back to Longchamp for a clash with the Derby hero High Chaparral on 6 October.

Last year's European champion racehorse ran well below his best when beaten a length by Wellbeing at Deauville on Saturday. But Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said that Sakhee is none the worse for his defeat. He said: "It was a below-par effort, but he made significant progress from his first run to his second last year so we'll have to see if his momentum kicks in again during the next couple of weeks."

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