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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Racecourse launch at ex-mine site | Racecourse launch at ex-mine site |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A £20m project to build the first National Hunt Racecourse in the UK for 80 years has been officially launched in Carmarthenshire. | A £20m project to build the first National Hunt Racecourse in the UK for 80 years has been officially launched in Carmarthenshire. |
| Construction of the racecourse on the site of a former open-cast mine at Trimsaran is already underway. | Construction of the racecourse on the site of a former open-cast mine at Trimsaran is already underway. |
| The first racing on the Ffos Las course will take place in 2009. | The first racing on the Ffos Las course will take place in 2009. |
| The project's second phase includes an equestrian centre which will be a training venue for competitors in the 2012 London Olympics. | The project's second phase includes an equestrian centre which will be a training venue for competitors in the 2012 London Olympics. |
| The Ffos Las course will be the third in Wales, along with Chepstow and Bangor-on-Dee. | The Ffos Las course will be the third in Wales, along with Chepstow and Bangor-on-Dee. |
| The course, with a grandstand for up to 1,000 spectators, is being built on the site of the 608-acre Ffos Las mine, which shut 10 years ago. | The course, with a grandstand for up to 1,000 spectators, is being built on the site of the 608-acre Ffos Las mine, which shut 10 years ago. |
| Unbelievable asset | Unbelievable asset |
| Planning consent was first given by Carmarthenshire Council in 2003, but the application was extended and final approval was granted earlier this year. | Planning consent was first given by Carmarthenshire Council in 2003, but the application was extended and final approval was granted earlier this year. |
| The developers Walters Group describe the course as a massive regeneration project turning coal gust and slag into grass and sport. | The developers Walters Group describe the course as a massive regeneration project turning coal gust and slag into grass and sport. |
| David Thursfield, director of Ffos Las, said the development would provide an "unbelievable asset " both for tourism and employment in the area. | David Thursfield, director of Ffos Las, said the development would provide an "unbelievable asset " both for tourism and employment in the area. |
| The course is expected to attract horse owners and punters from as far away as Ireland. | The course is expected to attract horse owners and punters from as far away as Ireland. |
| It will be Wales' equivalent of Aintree, the Liverpool racecourse, he said. | It will be Wales' equivalent of Aintree, the Liverpool racecourse, he said. |
| Construction of the horse racing course has already begun | Construction of the horse racing course has already begun |
| A hotel, pub and restaurant and up to 250 homes are also planned for the former coal mine site. | A hotel, pub and restaurant and up to 250 homes are also planned for the former coal mine site. |
| "There's going to be around 150 construction jobs and between 50 and 100 permanent jobs in the future," Mr Thursfield said. | "There's going to be around 150 construction jobs and between 50 and 100 permanent jobs in the future," Mr Thursfield said. |
| "With the size of the site there is potential for a lot, lot more. It's going to be massive. The area's coming on in leaps and bounds." | "With the size of the site there is potential for a lot, lot more. It's going to be massive. The area's coming on in leaps and bounds." |
| Sixteen horse meetings a year have been scheduled for the course already by the British Horse Racing Board. | Sixteen horse meetings a year have been scheduled for the course already by the British Horse Racing Board. |
| Once completed the course will be the first National Hunt Racecourse - with jumps - to be built in the UK for 80 years. | Once completed the course will be the first National Hunt Racecourse - with jumps - to be built in the UK for 80 years. |
| Among those present at the launch was former Wales and British Lions rugby player Jonathan Davies who once worked at the mine. | |
| He said: "I stand here as a very, very proud Trimsaran boy. | |
| "It's a fantastic incredible change, with all the development in the area. | |
| "This racecourse will bring great prosperity to the area - the area deserves it and so do the people." | |
| Another new flat horse racing course in Essex is due to open this year. | Another new flat horse racing course in Essex is due to open this year. |