Ffos Las - Britain's newest racecourse - is celebrating an award from its visitors as it prepares for the first ever Christmas racing fixture on Monday (December 21).

The accolade comes from the keenest followers of horse racing - the members of the Racegoers Club of Great Britain - who have chosen the racecourse as one of the top six smaller racecourses in Britain.

The club divides its annual racecourse awards into six regions - and Ffos Las has been named 'Best Small Racecourse' in the South West which includes Wales.

Ffos Las's general manager Colin Owens said: "We're thrilled to have been given this award by the most regular visitors to racecourses in Britain. It just shows what an impact our new racecourse has had on people coming to watch racing here."

The Racegoers Club (http://www.racegoersclub.co.uk">www.racegoersclub.co.uk), which has 6,000 members nationwide, is designed specifically to benefit racegoers, mainly through an admission concession scheme, and is supported by every British racecourse.

Next Monday's fixture is attracting big numbers of people wanting to get their festive season off to the best possible start - with an afternoon at the races.

Hospitality marquees have been booked up for weeks, and a large crowd is expected.

Shane Williams - the IRB Player of the year 2008/2009 - will be at the racecourse to present one lucky person with a signed shirt.

Up to 500 Santas will be running a full circuit on the path inside the racetrack to raise money for Welsh charity Ty Hafan.

There will be live music before and after the horse races, with The Wave radio station broadcasting live on the day.

The first race is scheduled for 12.30 pm, with the finale at 3.45 pm. Admission gates will be open from 10 am. The feature race is the three-mile South Wales Evening Post Handicap Chase.

Racing resumes in 2010 at Ffos Las on Saturday, January 9, with SIS Live Welsh Champion Hurdle day. 

The racecourse, which opened last June, will be on terrestrial television for the first time with the cameras of Channel 4 Racing on track.

Further information about the racecourse can be found at http://www.ffoslasracecourse.com">www.ffoslasracecourse.com.