Our story below was an April Fool’s Day story!
Burnham-On-Sea beach could soon play host to a prestigious series of horse racing meetings to be broadcast live on satellite TV.
Talks are underway for horse racing to be introduced on Burnham beach, between the Pavilion and low lighthouse, based around the tide times.
Under the plans, announced today, a seven-furlong straight track would be set up along on a tidal stretch of the beach where the sand is hardest.
Racing would take place on several days a year, attracting big crowds of spectators to watch the spectacle.
A spokeswoman for the organisers, AF Sporting Events, says talks are underway with a leading sports TV channel to broadcast live coverage of the Burnham-On-Sea action, which could start this autumn.
“The majority of racegoers would watch the action from grandstands set up for the day along with temporary marquees to act as the weighing room, betting area, bars and a restaurant.”
“Burnham’s horse racing meetings would be similar to Laytown racecourse in Ireland which is currently the only horse racing event run on a beach under the Rules of Racing.”
She added that the Burnham-On-Sea meetings would consist of six races of between six furlongs and a mile, with special precautions to be taken to ensure the horses avoid muddy areas of the beach.
