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Last night there were only 31 runners in 6 races (9 non runners)
2 of the races didnt allow for E/W bets.
80% of the horses were from Evan Williams, R curtis, T Vaughn, P Bowen, some of which had multiple entries in each race. No irish runners either which is of worry.
The prize money was decent which makes competitive racing at this track a big issue going forward. I imagine next thursdays NH meeting will have equally small fields if the west country mob dont turn up.
Also there was no Big Screen to watch the racing, despite Mr Walters claiming after the 2nd meeting last year that they would always have one.
Was £17 to get in despite it being Racing for Change week.
A very small crowd there.
2 of the races didnt allow for E/W bets.
80% of the horses were from Evan Williams, R curtis, T Vaughn, P Bowen, some of which had multiple entries in each race. No irish runners either which is of worry.
The prize money was decent which makes competitive racing at this track a big issue going forward. I imagine next thursdays NH meeting will have equally small fields if the west country mob dont turn up.
Also there was no Big Screen to watch the racing, despite Mr Walters claiming after the 2nd meeting last year that they would always have one.
Was £17 to get in despite it being Racing for Change week.
A very small crowd there.
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To be fare the evening meetings this last week have had a low turnout. I think you will find that once the weather picks up attendances for evening meetings and runners will pick up.
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I think the issue for Ffos Las is much wider. They had a meeting on the saturday after cheltenham festival which also had very small field sizes.
Their races are becoming more isolated in the entries, bar the obvious local welsh trainers there are very few other trainers sending across horses. The track is on the edge of the world so I understand why, just a shame as the track was doing so well. |
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The market in the 7:00 was a total disgrace. Why was Herons Well allowed to start at 6/4 when it could not be laid on here at 3.3? They only knocked two horses out in this race, one being the 33/1 rag. Shape of things to come I guess - a Welsh Flap!
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to be fair robinlace i dont think you can blame the low crowd on the weather as it was a very pleasant evening, (they had to miss out the hurdles on the home straight in the last hurdle race due to the low lying sun) i think that the small uncompetetive field will always turn off the casual racegoer.
this coupled with ffos las being in the position of starting only last year from a customer base of zero and also the "novelty" of a new track perhaps having worn off it will be interesting to see how the track progresses over the next year. i hope this was a blip and the flat cards through the summer will hopefully put things back to the levels of last year because im sure everyone will agree the track itself is superb. |
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Its a perverse situation but they'd get more runners if they offered lower prize money & lower class racing. Trainers are always banging on about poor prize money levels & yet wont run their horses when courses try to put up decent cards.
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The novelty factor is definately wearing off, and with small uncompetitive fields, no big screen and £17 entry I can see the track struggling. Which is a shame as the course itself is fantastic.
If all the entries end up being multiples of E Williams & T Vaughn then things will only get worse. JMDC - there was plenty of 7-4 avaialble that I could see at the off for herons well, think that problem goes back to the starting price method. |
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Disagree regarding the crowd i think there was a decent turn out,considering the start time would mean many are still just finishing work. A really lovely track,plenty of entertaintment planned over the coming months and i will certainly be going back.
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The small fields may indicate problems with the new racing surface.
Since the first meeting it has been noticeable how quick the ground is in relation to what might be expected weather wise. It drains freely (mostly into the car park) and will need loads of water chucked on it to provide ground with sufficient give for summer jumping, imo. |
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The ambulance following the horses was creating a dust cloud similar to the volcano ash cloud.
It drains too well :( |
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Locals wont be going at 17 quid a time, Wales has fared worst in this downturn by a long way, if they cant convince people to travel to watch the racing we will have another great leighs on our hands.
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I dont see the place going bust - it just looked so promising last year with the big crowds and arguably a more customer focussed outlook. £17 is steep for west wales and the population aint that big.
There is talk of extending the grandstand and sticking a hotel there, that would be a bad move imo. |
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Given the proximity to the ferry at Fishguard (from Rosslare), it's surprising that Irish trainers don't show more interest.
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its miles from anywhere
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but would be paid for by the wda, so will probably go ahead and give us an even bigger white elephant, but could then be used as an immigrant holding camp when it closes :) as if the sheep aint got enough to worry about with the locals.
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loper .............totally agree............at one meeting it was**.ing down with rain and there seemed very litle give in the ground...........
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28 fixtures = Paid for by Off Course Big Boys
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unless it gets the support of the west country trainers and some irish ones its a dead duck
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bbc2 - totally agree, what else can they do? Maybe summer jumping wont work there.
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i think coz of gd drainage they need 2 fget about jump racing in the summer and replace with more flat meetings and with local holiday seaside towns nearby will attract gd crowds durung summer months
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silly i know but if the track is where i thought it was being built i thought the land used to waterlog.may be they were aware of this and now it drains too well.
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nothing wrong with the place jimnast says the welsh national should be run there.
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great leighs?
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^ on firm ground ?, just would'nt get the runners ^
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