Ffos Las Racecourse is in Wales, within easy travelling distance from towns on the Pembrokeshire coast. It is also 18 miles from Swansea. Therefore, Ffos Las is well-positioned and popular on its many race days. Races at Ffos Las include both National Hunt and flat racing.
History of Ffos Las Racecourse
Ffos Las Racecourse was built on the site of a former open-cast coal mine in Carmarthenshire. This venue is a real symbol of how communities should diversify and grow. It opened in 2009 after the essential demise of the coal industry in Wales. Since then, it has flourished.
It’s early days yet for Ffos Las. In fact, it was the first new jumps venue to be opened in Britain for 80 years upon its completion. However, it already attracts some top names to the track.
In the last five years, there have been many top National Hunt jockeys at this venue. They include:
- Sean Bowen
- Adam Wedge
- Sam Twiston-Davies
- Tom Scudamore
- Gavin Sheehan
Whereas top trainers include Nicky Henderson, Rebecca Curtis, and Nigel Twiston-Davies. The top two spots are held by Welsh trainers though of course. The Pembrokeshire-based Peter Bowen is in the second spot and the Vale of Glamorgan’s Evan Williams rides high.
The flat names to top the lists are arguably even more impressive. They are David Evans and Rod Millman. Those top trainers are joined by crack handlers Archie Watson, Roger Charlton, and Andrew Balding.
Flat jockeys with the best record here in recent times include Rossa Ryan, Shane Kelly, and Martin Dwyer. Also, tip-top names Luke Morris and champion jockey Oisín Murphy have recorded here.
Ticket Prices at Ffos Las Racecourse
Like most tracks, Ffos Las Racecourse encourages racegoers to book in advance. Doing so will mean access to the course with a General Admission ticket for only £15. This is great value. Whereas concessions are allowed in for £10 and accompanied under-18s go free! Hospitality and race day packages are also widely available. the former starts at only £45 which is rare on the racing scene.
Ffos Las Racecourse Track Details
Ffos Las Racecourse of course hosts racing over both codes, with each track having by now had a chance to be evaluated by punters, trainers, and jockeys alike. The vast majority of people who attend this track have nothing but good things to say. So this suggests it is very fair indeed.
Flat
The flat track here is left-handed and around a mile-and-a-half in length. It is basically flat and fair. Most describe it as galloping in nature with a long home straight. There is a chute to accommodate straight five and six-furlong races.
There are no reported ridges on the course, no obvious demons and nor has any particular draw bias become apparent which makes things competitive, but once again fair. When the ground is soft, jockeys tend to come up the middle of the track negating even further the need for an inside stall on the round course.
Hurdles
There are six hurdles on each circuit, three on the back straight and three on the home straight, which keeps things simple enough. As expected, this rides similarly to the flat course in as much as it is flat and galloping.
Chase
The chase course is also a left-handed layout. But it has nine fences on each circuit. The back straight contains four plain fences and an open ditch while the home straight features another open ditch and a further three plain fences.
Riders say the fences here are fairly middle of the road—not among the stiffest in the country but certainly not too easy either.
For both hurdles and steeplechases, jumps jockeys say that when the rain does come here it gets very extreme and becomes really hard work, so do lookout for a horse with genuine stamina and not necessarily a hold-up animal when ground conditions ease.
Biggest Events at Ffos Las
Ffos Las hasn’t reached the position yet of holding major individual races, but some of their meetings are incredibly popular.
Gentlemen's Raceday featuring the Welsh Champion Hurdle are all really popular. The last-named race is the fixture highlight: Welsh Champion Hurdle – Handicap Hurdle, 2m, October.
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