TROTBritain LeTrot races set for Chelmsford City

LONDON, UK – For each of the next three months, TROTBritain is staging two LeTrot races tagged onto the Thoroughbred race meetings at Chelmsford City Racecourse over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong.  

The first of the three meetings come on August 15th, and then the 30th of September and the finale on 12 October. 

The August 15th meeting will have two LeTrot races for older horses, sponsored by LeTrot, the French Trotting Governing body.

All races will be stewarded jointly by a Gait Steward appointed by TROTBritain, and the British Harness Racing Club (BHRC) representatives for stewarding and integrity testing.

The excitement that these meetings has again produced amongst the Trotting Fraternity in the U.K. is overwhelming. Chelmsford City Racecourse is a great venue and with the added bonus of being owned by Betfred, one of the largest UK off-course bookmakers, the opportunities for progressing LeTrot racing are immeasurable.

The all-weather track is ideal for trotters. The potential for streaming the races is immense. All the meetings are being beamed by SIS and the races going into all Betfred shops.

The 30th September meeting will feature "The George Button Senior Challenge Trophy ", won in 2016 by TROTBritain and BHRC Horse of the Year, Sulky du Bleguin.

George Button Senior, 82 now, who still follows trotting keenly, purchased his first trotter in 1965, and his extended family, are all involved in the trot industry, through the LeTrot initiative.  His son George, is a racehorse owner and Director of TROTBritain.

Thomas Ripley, his grandson, is a second season owner in the sport, and is carrying on the family tradition.  

Fleet Hire Ltd will sponsor the Silver Grade Trot on the night.

The 12th October should see a contingent of French drivers participate for the first time at Chelmsford, giving the meeting an International feel. The Ali Family are to sponsor the Gold race for high class trotters in memory of Malcom Ali, a lifelong trotting enthusiast, who died in 2016 at the age of 70.

Malcom was one of trotting's characters, great company either in the paddock or the bar, and TROTBritain kindly thank the family for their sponsorship of The Malcom Ali Memorial. The race is part of TROTBritain/LeTrot Triple Crown, which is being run for the first time this year. 

The races themselves are another forward move by TROTBritain staging two races on each of the three meetings this year, after the inaugural November 2016 successful trial at the Chelmsford All Weather track.

With the continued LeTrot sponsorship and the emphasis now shifting to a 3-year-old series this year, thus bringing in many more horses, it is hoped by 2018 that TROTBritain will be able to negotiate a full LeTrot sponsored race meeting at the South of England track.

TROTBritain is thankful to the Management of Chelmsford City Racecourse for their continued support. Chelmsford is a well-run set up and deservedly next year in 2018 have acquired 63 meetings, 11 more than 2017, which bodes well for the continued association of LeTrot races at the course.

TROTBritain will continue to strive for PMU races, and have set a foundation now in the UK to achieve that with its association with Chelmsford, and Tir Prince in North Wales. Now that TROTBritain has been given the control and delegation of trotting events in the UK by the BHRC, plans can be put into place to enhance the LeTrot concept further. 

TROTBritain could not have done all this without the support of the many owners, trainers and drivers who have seen the value of what we are trying to do. We thank you all.

Now everybody needs to get behind what TROTBritain can do at Chelmsford by giving your support by entering horses and attending the Chelmsford meetings and the first on Tuesday 15th August. 

From TROTBritain