Lingfield Park will stage floodlit racing after the Surrey course’s application to install lighting was approved by its local council.
Lingfield, the oldest of Britain’s six all-weather venues, is currently the only one of the sextet that can’t stage floodlit fixtures. But that is set to change after the track’s owners Arena Racing Company succeeded in its bid to install ‘directional lighting’ to the all-weather track and paddock and ‘low-level lighting’ to the walkway that links them.
Racing figures welcome the news
The news received an emphatic thumbs-up from all-weather racing’s biggest names. Luke Morris, the winner of six all-weather jockeys’ titles - the 2026-27 campaign begins at Newcastle next Tuesday - said: “I think everyone will see it as a positive.
“There wasn’t a southern ARC all-weather track with floodlights, and the fixtures were being funnelled off within the group.
“Lingfield has stood the test of time as an all-weather track but it was almost getting a little bit left behind and all-weather racing is becoming increasingly important.”
Tony Carroll, champion all-weather trainer for the past two seasons, added: “I would approve - I’m surprised it got passed, mind, as it’s on the Gatwick flight path.
“We need to keep the sport going and I’d be for it. I never thought it would go through because of where it was.”
Council conditions on lighting
A statement from Tandridge District Council observed: “The development is directly beneath the flight path into London Gatwick.
“Therefore, the lighting shall be angled to ensure that there is no upwards light spill that could cause glare to air crew.”
