Kempton could give way to housing

It would see the prestigious race, won so thrillingly on Boxing Day by the novice chaser Thistlecrack, moved to nearby Sandown with a new all-weather track bankrolled at Newmarket.

However, Jockey Club Racecourses, who own the course which is close to both Heathrow Airport and the Twickenham rugby stadium, say the plan – which could be a catalyst for a £500m investment in the sport – will only go ahead if they can raise £100m from the sale of Kempton Park, where racing began in the late 1800s.

As well as witnessing some of steeplechasing’s greatest moments, like Arkle’s final race and multiple King George successes for Kauto Star, Desert Orchid and Yorkshire’s very own Wayward Lad, a Flat all-weather track was opened at the venue in 2006.

Nevertheless it is far from certain that the plan will come to fruition. Sandown simply does not have the capacity to host a race of the King George’s magnitude while authorities at Chelmsford were given permission to build a new turf track and casino yesterday in addition to the existing all-weather surface.

Will there be sufficient slots in the racing calendar, and sponsorship money, to support effectively two new Flat tracks in such close proximity? The former will be a matter for the British Horseracing Authority, who allocate fixtures.

Roger Weatherby, senior steward of the Jockey Club, said: “The Jockey Club is governed by Royal Charter to act for the long-term good of British racing.

“One of the ways we want to live up to that is through a series of projects that offer benefits all around the country and collectively add up to us contributing more than half a billion pounds to the sport over the next decade from its grass roots to top level.

“We must show leadership with the assets we have and, where merited, take tough decisions to help our sport to keep moving forwards. The decision to submit our estate at Kempton Park for consideration in the Local Plan is unique and has not been taken lightly.”

As well as Sandown, which will be marketed as London’s premier dual code racecourse, Kempton’s other jumps fixtures could be spread around other Jockey Club-owned racecourses – the portfolio includes Market Rasen, Carlisle and Warwick.

However, top trainer Nicky Henderson, whose Long Run was a dual King George winner, poured scorn on the proposals.

“It’s a lot to digest, obviously. It’s a massive subject and a massive deal,” he said. “But I’m afraid, when it comes down to it, Kempton is a track National Hunt racing cannot afford to lose. We fought this battle once before and we won.

“They were talking about having the all-weather track and then Flat racing on the turf and doing away with the National Hunt.

“Thankfully we saw that little skirmish off and I think it’s worked very well, with the all-weather and the jumps track side by side. It will be a very sad day if we lose it.”

Henderson also said Sandown was prone to more arduous ground, which does not suit some horses. “The King George isn’t the same race at Sandown,” he added.

“Sandown can’t take that amount of racing. They (the Jockey Club) will tell you it can, but it can’t, we all know that. Kempton is a very good racecourse, they provide the safest ground and we don’t want to be without it.”