Racing ahead for course's big opening

- Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The countdown is on to the opening of Wales's newest racecourse.

In 119 days, Ffos Las, nestled in the heart of the Gwendraeth Valley, will hold its first meeting.

The long-awaited project, which lies between Trimsaran and Carway, is the UK's newest purpose-built turf racecourse.

Tickets for Ffos Las's first race on June 18 go on sale on March 1 — St David's Day.

Work is galloping ahead at the £20 million former opencast site.

The track has now been completed and the buildings are well underway, including 120 stables, 17 ensuite bedrooms in the hostel and the jockeys' enclosure.

The grandstand, which is currently being built, overlooks the finishing line and boasts eight hospitality boxes and a 150-seat restaurant, while there is also room for up to 800 people on the terrace in front of the stand. For the bigger fixtures, marquees will be set up.

The mile-and-a-half course will host six jump fixtures and two on the flat this year.

General manager Jon Williams said there had been a lot of interest in tickets.

Annual badges costing £100, which went on sale in January, mean punters can enjoy all eight of this year's fixtures at Ffos Las, as well as benefiting from a number of meetings at other racecourses throughout the UK and Ireland, including Chepstow, Bath, Hereford, Newbury, Punchestown, The Curragh, Tramore and Wexford.

Mr Williams said: "We have now sold more than 400 annual badges, which is twice as many as we thought we would.

"General tickets will go on sale on March 1 through our website www.ffoslasrace course.com."

Big prize money is expected to draw top names from the racing fraternity.

Along with talk of reviving the Welsh Champion Hurdle, which used to take place in Chepstow, there's £50,000 up for grabs for the two-and-a-half or three-mile chase in the August 28 meet. There is a £30,000 hurdle and £15,000 novice chase on the same day.

Trial races are set to take place in mid-May, when horses will get on the track and people will be invited to attend. Before that, a private trial will take place.

Also during May, an open day will be held for the local community to have a sneak preview of the course. The date is to be announced.

Ffos Las has been given eight fixtures this year. These will be retained in 2010, in addition to another eight meetings.

These dates have not been confirmed, but it is hoped they will include at least one Saturday or bank holiday fixture.

Mr Williams said: "We are pleased with what we've been given so far — a Friday bank holiday, three Sundays and the Monday before Christmas.

"In August, we're expecting a crowd of 2,500, but the joy of this course is that it will still feel quite busy on the quieter fixtures, when some other racecourses can feel empty and have no atmosphere."

Story credit - www..thisissouthwales.co.uk