Issue - meetings

This report informs the Conservators of dates for race meetings in 2019 and presents a request from Epsom Downs Racecourse for consent for race meetings and extensions to the periods permitted for fencing, as required by the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984 and Epsom and Walton Downs Byelaws.

The Conservators received a report informing them of dates for race meetings in 2019 and presenting a request from Epsom Downs Racecourse for consent for race meetings and extensions to the periods permitted for fencing as required by the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984 and Epsom and Walton Downs Byelaws.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Fencing period extension applications. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that the Racecourse was applying for two extensions to the period permitted for fencing. These extensions were unchanged from those granted by the Conservators for the 2018 racing season.

b)            Change to schedule of race meetings: 15 August, Team Racing. Andrew Cooper informed the Conservators of an amendment to the schedule of race meetings to be held in 2019. The provisional race meeting listed for Thursday 5 September would not take place. The Conservators were informed that an alternative evening fixture might be held on Thursday 15 August 2019 instead.

The Conservators were informed that if it was held, the fixture on 15 August would form part of a series of ‘Team Racing’ events held across the country over a number of consecutive weeks. The event was currently considered ‘provisional’ by the Racecourse, with confirmation of whether it would be held anticipated by the end of February 2019. The Conservators noted that as an evening fixture, it would require their approval in accordance with section 14 of the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984.

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1)      That the Conservators noted the dates of the 2019 racing season for Epsom Downs detailed in paragraph 1.1 of the report, and granted their consent to the following meetings in accordance with section 14 of the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984:

Thursday 4 July (Evening)

Thursday 11 July (Evening)

Thursday 18 July (Evening)

Thursday 1 August (Evening)

Thursday 15 August (Evening) (Provisional)

Sunday 29 September

(2)      That the Conservators noted that Epsom Downs Racecourse had applied to Surrey County Council for the temporary suspension of Footpath 50 as detailed in section 3 of the report.

(3)      That the Conservators approved an application from Epsom Downs Racecourse for consent under the Byelaw 2 (i) (a) to bring forward the start of the fencing period for the Upper Tattenham Enclosure and Lonsdale Enclosure for the Derby festival to 13 May 2019.

(4)      That the Conservators approved an application from Epsom Downs Racecourse for consent under the Byelaw 2 (i) (a) to extend the fencing period for the Lonsdale Enclosure to enable fencing to remain in place between the dates of 12 – 19 June 2019.