Problems hit Wales’ race course
Two of the most famous racecourses of Wales, Ffos Las and Chepstow have been confronted with problems, as was reported on the 18th of August. The former has faced a reduction in its 2011 fixtures while the latter had a stranded race meeting.
The total number of races to be met in 2011 at the Ffos Las race course was 28, which has now been reduced to 16 by the British Horseracing Authority. The clerk and the general manager at the Carmarthenshire racecourse, Tim Long, is reported to have said that the authority was looking forward to an urgent meeting.
Due to the safety issues of the ground state on the Chepstow racecourse, the meeting that was set on Thursday evening has been stranded.
The under threat meeting fixed on Monday the 30th of August, big Bank Holiday, is most likely to be shifted to Bath. Keith Ottesen, the Chepstow clerk in Wales said that they will have a clearer image of the situation over the weekend. She further added that racecourse authorities have come across some potential danger zones on the ground. These are about five to six in number.
Yes, not that major, but this could really affect the speed of the galloping horses especially in flat races. Moreover he told the correspondent that the authorities were taking measures to find out the nature of these unstable turfs but think it is in the best interest of the jockeys and the colts that the meetings be called off.
He also said that the safety conditions over shadow all the concerns of their customers, trainers and owners related to the abandoning of the race meeting, however it was a very crucial decision for the management to abandon the race. Keith added that it was too soon to declare if the problem with the course was due to its shutting down five years back because of the leather jacket larvae residing it. There is no concrete evidence as to what exactly this problem was five year old, but it was most probably a fungal problem.
The Trimsaran track that was opened in June 2009, was the first novel turf horse racing track in the Great Britain and has been for 80 years. It is now facing a huge blow due to the abandoning of fixtures at Ffos Las.
The reduction in the fixtures is part of the proposal devised by the British Horseracing Authority for the suspension of the 15 fixtures set for 2011. These fixed meetings will only be considered again by the authority if the race courses along with the Horsemen’s Group will give a consensus for their allocation and if they forward another proposal to the Board.
Tim Long said that the news is obviously upsetting for them. He further talked to the correspondent saying that the decision will cost the authorities their trade opportunities, since just sixteen meetings are not enough to make the business a success.
Long said that the prospering business, which has generated a huge amount of revenue and attracted a great number of tourists to Wales, will be adversely affected. Cuts will surely be minimised, this will be decided after the crucial meeting that will take place between the concerned parties and BHA.
One of the properties of Ffos Las that will work in BHA’s favour is the well developed and well designed dual purpose track which has managed to bring great credit to the British racing industry.
The general manager and clerk of Ffos Las, Tim Long is still seen to hold an optimistic mind set in the long run, despite the disturbing cuts. He said that it is relatively easy to jot down the problems in horse racing, but still many people are attending the racecourse tracks which are being backed by the corporate sector. Despite the problems confronting the racecourse tracks at Wales, they are still surrounded by a hype of the enthusiastic visitors and fans.
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