Racing at Great Yarmouth Racecourse has been delayed until the end of August after it was decided to give the track a further month for the turf to develop.

Following the £300,000 resurfacing of the track, racing was originally due to restart on Thursday, July 23 but fans will now have to wait until Sunday, August 30, resulting in the cancellation of six meetings.

The Arena Racing Company (ARC) is working with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to see when these fixtures can be re-arranged.

A statement on ARC's website said: 'The executive at ARC and Great Yarmouth Racecourse, in conjunction with Professional Sportsturf Design and the British Horseracing Authority, have decided to give the track one further month for the turf to develop and strengthen before recommencing racing. This will safeguard the track as it will be lightly raced with six fixtures in 2015, including the three day Eastern Festival in September.

'The later start date ensures the track will have a fair and safe racing surface for horses and jockeys which has always been the primary issue for consideration in all decisions taken in relation to the completion of the project and recommencement of racing. It also ensures the track will be able withstand racing for the rest of the 2015 season and that ARC's £300,000 investment will achieve its long term aim of guaranteeing the racecourse will have one of the best straight turf mile tracks in the country for many years to come.'

Jon Pullin, ARC's Racing Operations director, said: 'We have always said we are committed to ensuring each of our racecourses provides the best possible conditions for horses to race on, be that a synthetic racing surface or turf. While we are keen to recommence racing at Great Yarmouth we can only do so when we are confident that the racing surface is absolutely safe for horses and jockeys and will withstand the remainder of the 2015 programme. We can now be confident that an extra month of growth will ensure the track will be ready for 30 August.'

Glenn Tubby, Great Yarmouth Executive director, said: 'The team at Great Yarmouth fully appreciates the patience our racegoers, annual members, sponsors and horsemen have shown and are pleased we can now confirm when racing will recommence. Where appropriate we will be in touch with our customers on a one-to-one basis to make sure suitable alternative arrangements are made. We are excited to be welcoming back the racing community to Great Yarmouth next month and look forward to many great years of racing ahead of us.'

Anyone wishing to contact Great Yarmouth Racecourse to request further details or make a booking should call 01493 842527 or visit www.greatyarmouth-racecourse.co.uk.