THE HARNESS racing community has reacted with dismay to the news that meetings will cease to be scheduled at Rhyl’s Tir Prince raceway.
Races for the 2011 season will not be organised by directors of the race course, who say that there is no longer enough interest from spectators to continue the meets.
TIr Prince is regarded as one of the premier harness racing venues in the country, with only three other hard course venues of a similar calibre in the country.
A number of figures from the racing world have expressed their disappointment at the announcement, with many indicating that the news is a major blow to the sport.
Gareth Thomas, a horse trainer from Aberystwyth who regularly took part in meets at Tir Prince, was concerned that the news would bring to an end the tradition of harness racing in Rhyl.
“My family have been racing for three generations - my father, myself and my son,” he said. Its one of the biggest blows to the sport since the closure of the Chasewater track, maybe even more so.”
“The Crock of Gold night is the biggest race in the calendar, and the knock-on effect is trainers in North Wales will be losing horses, as well as not racing on their local track.”
Mr Thomas also held out little hope for other groups hiring the track to put on race meets.
“At the cost it takes to put it on, no one is going to take that on.”
Alan Mansfield, who has been involved in races at Tir Prince since its opening in 1963, said he was a crying shame that the races were no longer going to be scheduled.
“Tir Prince is the only place where people from outside the sport can come and feel welcome,” he said.
“It would be a crying shame if the races were to stop.”
Mike O’Reilly, another trainer, is also worried about the knock-on effect for trainers in the area should they be unable to race on their local circuit.
“The winner of the Crock of Gold came all the way from Northern Ireland to compete here. This will cause a lot of unemployment - it’s going to force a lot of people out.”