Great Yarmouth Racecourse hopeful for July opening

Great Yarmouth's racing surface underwent renovation after it began to degrade

Great Yarmouth Racecourse is hopeful of re-opening on schedule on 23 July after £300,000 of work on the racing surface.

The course has still to pass a British Horseracing Authority inspection that includes a trial gallop.

The work by Arena Racing Company began in September 2014, in conjunction with the BHA, after ridges developed.

ARC's racing operations director Jon Pullin said the course would only re-open if it "will withstand the remainder of the 2015 programme".

He added: "We appreciate horsemen's and racegoers' patience in this situation and will keep everyone updated as necessary."

Great Yarmouth last saw racing on 18 September last year, the final day of the 2014 Eastern Festival.

The course is due to stage 10 meetings in the remainder of this year, including the three-day Festival, which begins on 15 September.