Ffos Las’s pre-Christmas race day survived an inspection and went ahead with the going heavy. One fence and one hurdle on each circuit were omitted. A violent downpour moved away just in time for the first race, a 2m4f hurdle. Debra Hamer’s Out The Glen (3/1 fav) was going best turning into the straight and kept on stoutly to hold off Ring The Moon, who challenged valiantly but to no avail. This length and three …
CONTINUE READINGWELSH HORSE RACING AWARDS WINNERS
The Jockey of the Year award, sponsored by Cotts Equine, went to David Probert. David has ridden well over a hundred winners in the last year, earning over £1.2m of prize money, and is on course to beat his personal best for the 2019 calendar year. The Trainer of the Year category, sponsored by Gain Equine Nutrition, was awarded to Evan Williams. He earned the most prize money, over £660,000, mainly due to the exploits …
CONTINUE READINGRaceday Report – Thursday 28th November
This was an extra meeting, arranged to help compensate for the wet-weather abandonments of so many fixtures around the country in the last month or two. The first hurdle and the second fence in the home straight were omitted on account of the heavy going. Any punters who piled into the first six winning favourites were not complaining, though. Harry Whittington’s Stick With Bill (8/11 fav) made virtually all the running in the opener, a …
CONTINUE READINGRaceday Report – Friday 22nd November
Stamina and determination were necessary on a damp, windy day where the going was soft, heavy in places. Nevertheless, there were some good performances to note for future reference. The favourite won the first race of the day, a 3m chase. Heavenly Promise (3/1 fav) was travelling well before cruising into the lead after the third last. She was not hard pressed to score by five lengths from Misty Mai. The winner has been rejuvenated …
CONTINUE READINGTHE NOMINATIONS FOR THE WELSH HORSE RACING AWARDS SPONSORED BY THE RACEHORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION
The panel was spoilt for choice regarding the nominees for Jockey of the Year sponsored by Cotts Equine. James Bowen rode the winner of the Midlands Grand National, adding to his victory in the Welsh equivalent a year earlier. His brother Sean achieved his breakthrough first Grade 1 win at the Aintree Grand National meeting, on If The Cap Fits in the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle. 18-year-old conditional Connor Brace won the Scottish Champion Hurdle on …
CONTINUE READINGRaceday Report – Sunday 10th November 2019
The going was soft on this fine late autumn Sunday, with some good racing and a couple of Welsh-trained winners. The card began with a 3m chase. At eleven years of age it looked like Horatio Hornblower’s best was behind him, yet he simply cruised alongside the leaders four out. When one of the others made a terrible blunder and another ran out of steam Horatio was left in front. Then Frankly Speaking tried to …
CONTINUE READINGRaceday Report – Saturday 19th October 2019
The going was soft, heavy in places on Welsh Champion Hurdle day, which was mainly sunny. Several promising types won or filled the places in the supporting card. In the chases, the open ditch in the home straight was omitted. The new Ffos Las jumps season under way with a 3m hurdle and a locally-trained winner. Rebecca Curtis’s strike rate over the summer has been exceptional and Special Princess (11/4 jt fav) was having her …
CONTINUE READINGChepstow and Ffos Las to launch Racing Club
Chepstow and Ffos Las Racecourses are launching a Racing Club this month and will have a horse in training this winter. The five-year-old gelding, Baboin, will be under the care of Vale of Glamorgan trainer Tim Vaughan. The horse, formerly trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, has run nine times winning once and being placed on four other occasions. The club is aimed at anyone who would like to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership …
CONTINUE READINGLasting Legacy For Welsh Longshot That Caused One Of The Biggest Shocks in Horse Racing History
A lasting tribute is to be made at Ffos Las Racecourse this October to the unlikely Welsh racehorse that beat a household name to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup at odds of 100-1. Norton’s Coin, trained 20 miles from the track, shocked the nation when he defeated superstar racehorse Desert Orchid in the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most prestigious event in the jump racing calendar. Driven to the race by his farmer owner and …
CONTINUE READINGLOW COST VANS TO SPONSOR TWO BIG RACES IN WALES
Two of the biggest horse races of the year in Wales have a new sponsor – the Neath based company Low Cost Vans, one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial vehicles. The company has agreed to support the £50,000 Welsh Champion Hurdle on Gentleman’s Day at Ffos Las and the £22,500 Robert Mottram Novices’ Chase at Chepstow. The races are schedule for Saturday 19th and Saturday 12th October respectively. The Welsh Champion Hurdle is …
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