All-weather racetrack to reopen in England

The British all-weather circuit will expand on Sunday with the resumption of racing at Chelmsford City racecourse east of London, a facility formerly known as Great Leighs.

The track opened in April 2008, but racing ceased in January 2009 after the track lost its license to race because of financial difficulties.

The racecourse, which has a Polytrack synthetic surface, has been renamed under new ownership and will offer 58 days of racing in 2015. The new owners include Fred Done, the owner of the BetFred bookmaking chain and the operator of the British tote system.

Sunday’s seven-race program at Chelmsford City has races ranging in distances from five furlongs to 1 1/4 miles.

The feature race is the $31,000 Betsi Golden Mile Condition Stakes for 3-year-olds over a mile. My Mistress, a winner in her debut on Dec. 22, is part of a field of five. The filly, by Mastercraftsman, was recently acquired by Hank Nothhaft of Saratoga, Calif, and turned over to trainer

Nothhaft campaigned Living the Life, who last April won the $235,000 Fillies and Mares Championship on the all-weather track at Lingfield, England, and in September won the Grade 2 Masters Stakes at Presque Isle Downs.

Living the Life was last of 10 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita in November. Living the Life is in training with Gary Mandella at Santa Anita for a comeback in February.