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LIVE ON SKY Greyfriars Shopping Centre in Carmarthen sponsored one of the seven races in front of huge crowds on the official opening day of the new Ffos Las race course.
The day's racing was shown live on Sky's At The Races. The sun shone for most of the afternoon and despite the blustery conditions the 15,000 crowd enjoyed some magnificent racing. The only blemish was the hour-and-a-half traffic jam into the course before the racing started but despite the delays most spectators are delighted that they no longer have to travel to Chepstow or Bath for their nearest top flight horse racing. And although a torrential downpour had spectators scurrying for cover just as the Greyfriars’ race was about to start they were able to watch from the main stand or enjoy the excitement on big screen to see Kilgetty-trained Cresswell Bubbles cross the line in first place. Greyfriars Shopping Centre manager John Nash said the centre was delighted to be associated with Ffos Las, particularly on its official opening and hoped it would be the start of a lasting relationship. The shopping centre’s competition for four tickets to the races was won by Heidi Green from Carmarthen and other tickets were won in a Greyfriars competition in conjunction with Radio Carmarthenshire. Prizemoney for the seven races totalled £100,000 including the main race of the day, the £50,000 for the freebets.co.uk handicap chase over three miles one furlong. After the racing, many of the crowd stayed on for the live stage show by Welsh singing star Cerys Matthews the former Catatonia front woman who said Ffos Las would definitely bring new interest and business to the area.
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The shopping centre sponsored the Greyfriars Shopping Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race on the new £30m course – the UK’s first new turf course for 70 years – opened by former BBC race commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan, pictured with Michael Howard, chairman of Northern Racing.
Jockeys make their way to the parade ring