Fontwell Park will benefit as part of Arena Racing Company’s £500,000 investment programme. Pic: Courtesy Fontwell Park.

By Simon Jackson.

Fontwell Park is one of the racecourses set to benefit from a £500,000 investment by Arena Racing Company (ARC) who are undertaking a programme to enhance the racing surfaces of several tracks.

The popular West Sussex course, that comprises a hurdle track and figure of eight steeplechase course, is one of seven ARC venues to benefit from improvements to their drainage systems.

Chepstow, Sedgefield, Worcester, Southwell’s turf track and Newcastle’s national hunt course – along with Uttoxeter where work was completed last year – are others benefitting from the initiative.

The drainage works form part of a wide-ranging improvement plan that are to be carried out without disrupting planned fixtures. Additionally, plans are also underway to level the home straight at Great Yarmouth this winter, which will necessitate the course closing from September to June 2015.

ARC racing director, Jim Allen, said: “We have a diverse range of courses within the Group and we are committed to ensuring each one provides the best possible conditions for horses to race on.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Levy Board and the BHA to undertake a programme of significant investment and look forward to years of successful and competitive racing at our courses.”

The drainage works are being funded in part with short-term loans from the Levy Board, which will be paid back by summer 2018. The project at Great Yarmouth is a stand-alone six-figure investment by ARC.

Fontwell’s next meeting is on May 25 when they stage a seven race card with the first race set to go off at 2.20pm.

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ at London24 for the latest horse racing news.