Wimbledon has been given a new rolling lease which will see racing carry on until the end of the year and possibly beyond.
The local management has come to an agreement with land-owners Galliards on a two year contract, with a six month termination clause while a planning application to develop the site is considered by the incoming London Mayor.
Galliards’ plan to build housing alongside a football stadium was passed by the local Merton Council but ‘called in’ by present London Mayor Boris Johnson and a final decision could be a long way off.
Racing should be safe until at least Christmas and the planning issues could drag on months meaning the stadium could be open well into next year and stage the 2017 English Derby.
However in the short term the most pressing problem could be a shortage of dogs. Some trainers have left the track, while others have given notice to quit.
The track intends to race just once a week on a Saturday after the Derby finishes in June until they resume screening their Thursday night cards on Racing Post TV in September.
