MUSSELBURGH Racecourse's fixtures scheduled for next week will go ahead as planned after the racecourse was issued a temporary licence.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) had said it would have no option but to move the fixtures elsewhere unless a new licence could be issued for the course this week.

The BHA has now released a statement confirming the fixtures will go ahead as planned.

The statement read: "The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today announced that the BHA board has granted Musselburgh Racecourse a temporary licence, which will expire on May 5.

"The BHA board now considers it appropriate in the interests of the racecourse and the wider sport for a temporary licence to be issued.

"The temporary licence means that the racecourse’s fixtures which are programmed for May 3 and 4 can go ahead as scheduled.

"An update regarding the state of Musselburgh’s racecourse licence beyond May 5 will be issued in due course."

The announcement follows a meeting of East Lothian Council in Haddington on Tuesday.

At the meeting, it was confirmed that a working group would be created – made up of councillors Fiona O’Donnell (Lab), Brian Small (Con) and Stuart Currie (SNP), as well as racecourse staff and representatives from Lothians Racing Syndicate (LRS) – to try to establish “the most appropriate long-term operating model for the racecourse”.

This could result in a third-party operator taking over management of the course from the newly formed Musselburgh Racing Associated Committee (MRAC), which recently replaced the Musselburgh Joint Racing Committee (MJRC).

The council approved the appointment of Robert Miller-Bakewell and Ray Anderson Green as the two LRS representatives on the new MRAC. They will join four councillors on the committee: Ms O’Donnell, Mr Currie, Andrew Forrest (Lab) and Katie Mackie (Con).

The MJRC previously had three LRS representatives but the changes mean that LRS chairman John Prideaux, a regular council critic, is no longer on the racecourse committee.

The cost of creating the working group – including accessing legal advice and other advisor costs – is estimated to be about £55,000.

It has also been agreed that racecourse staff will not be required to transfer their employment to East Lothian Council.

Ms O’Donnell, chairwoman of MRAC, said: “In recent weeks representatives from East Lothian Council have held a number of meetings with members of the LRS and representatives from the BHA which have been very constructive.

"All parties have demonstrated a clear commitment to securing the best long-term future for the racecourse which will draw upon the considerable experience already available from both organisations and individuals in East Lothian.

“I firmly believe the proposals agreed today, including the establishment of a new joint working group, fairly reflect the views and aspirations of all actively involved in the continued success of Musselburgh Racecourse and in turn will be recognised by the BHA as fulfilling their conditions for renewal of the racing licence.

“I would like to thank the racecourse staff for their continued patience and commitment to securing a positive outcome for the future operation of the racecourse.”

While the MRAC is in charge, “all profits” from the operation of the racecourse will continue to be “reinvested towards the improvement of horseracing at Musselburgh”.

However, if a third party is brought in to succeed the MRAC then that arrangement is likely to change.

A new Minute of Agreement between East Lothian Council and LRS says: “The council shall work with the syndicate to consider the future operation of the racecourse.

"The parties shall work proactively to consider the most appropriate operating model.

"The parties acknowledge that the ultimate decision as to the preferred model shall be made by the council.”

If an external third party is chosen to run the course then the council “shall not be obliged” to find an operator that will run the course on a not-for-profit model.

Last year, the BHA became so concerned with the running of the venue that it threatened not to renew its licence unless an independent report into its governance was carried out.