Great Leighs

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption =
latitude = 51.826628
longitude = 0.505757
official_name = Great Leighs
population =
civil_parish =
shire_district =
shire_county = Essex
region = East of England
constituency_westminster = West Chelmsford
post_town = Chelmsford
postcode_district = CM3 1
postcode_area = CM
dial_code = 01245
os_grid_reference = TL725175

Great Leighs is a village in Essex, England, half way between Chelmsford and Braintree. In 2008 Great Leighs became home to the first new racecourse in 80 years, when the nearby Essex County Showground was converted into a state-of-the-art horse-racing venue. Great Leighs Racecourse held its first race meeting on 20 April 2008 and staged its first meeting fully open to the public from May 28-29 2008. The racecourse is due to bring hundreds of new jobs to the area, and Great Leighs may soon become well-known for the racecourse, similar to Epsom and Newmarket