David Senior commented “As of Friday pm August 7th the tote is now working. Recently we had an incident when a seagull landed on a live wire at Tir Prince, it shorted the electricity for most of Towyn for a few hours and it seems as the power surge wrecked the motherboard. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our loyal supporters.”

Join us on our, Monday 17th August, televised race night - we will be having a special Ladies Night with £000’s of prizes, champagne tent, disco, late bar and much more.

See our full Ladies Night Poster   here…..

TIR PRINCE 27th JULY

CHECK ON JACK WINS DERBY

Once again we hosted a wonderful nights racing and the weather gods ensured it was another dry and sunny evening. The westerlies however were strong and on the cool side which affected the times especially for the earlier races.

We started off the Roosevelt Bowl trot and this was won comfortably by Andrew Cairns on John Love’s Buster Tibby with UFO Apache just pipping Jack OG Lobell by a short head for second.

The second race was a cracker with three finishing together on the line, the nod went to Jim McInally on Catscam ( a dead heat winner here last week) beating Megan Taff on New York Sweetheart and Mark Elvin on Ayr Mission. Mark was a little luckier the day before as his wife gave birth to a bonny baby girl, Charlie.

The large crowd witnessed a blanket finish in race three as Megan Taff’s luck changed in the conditioned pace as Life’s a Beach won by a neck from Mick Lord on Howards Contender, both given a time of 2.022 from ½ length with Susan Young driving  No Mercy.

The crowd eagerly awaited the £1000 preferred free for all but as it turned out Rocker Laidlaw’s prolific season continued as JR Hall proved that this could be another horse to watch out for, as it turned out times of 58.2 for the quarter and 57.9 for the half finishing 6 lengths clear of a really good field in a time of 1.593 on a cool, windy night. Springhill Kate just held off Premier Dream for second.

The Roosevelt Cup trot saw a much closer race than was expected as track record holder had to go to the outside due to a break and the leaders were away and gone but with an almost magical turn of pace Need for Run driven by Andrew Cairns gained and gained and went into the lead with only 50 yards to go but still won by 2 ½ lengths from Bambi Kir who just pipped Tomahawk on the line for second. John Foy was delighted with the result and hailed Need for Run as the best trotter he had ever had.

Next was the eagerly awaited Three Year old Derby, could anyone get close to Rocker Laidlaw on Check on Jack. The draw was announced Rhyds Destiny drawn 4, Boat Toy drawn 5 and Check on Jack on the outside in position 7. This draw galvanised the opposition and Mick Lord on Rhyds Destiny went out hard going to the quarter in 29.3 very fast for a 1 ½ mile race but the tactic seemed to work. As Mick dominated the race in the closest Derby for many years. The crowd made a huge noise  as they turned for home as three came round together with Mick in front in what might be called position 2, Megan Taff on Boat Toy was screaming on the outside and catching with every stride with Rocker on Check on Jack boxed in on the inside of the track. Mick came out slightly from the inside and all of a sudden Rocker went for the space, was there enough room? It did not seem possible but Check on Jack showed an incredible turn of foot winning on the line by ½ length from Rhds Destiny in second with Boat Toy only ¾ length behind in third, the judges could not split Coalford Potter and Celebrity Tango and they had a dead heat for 4^th. On for the memory bank on a cold winters night.

The wind died down for the last two races and although it was 10pm the Welsh Cup heat was won by Colin Bevan on Henry Bulman’s Mahogany Dream an impressive run in 2.012 from Megan Taff on the fast finshing Ynys Mari, clocked at 2.016 giving 30 yards, Vyrny Mark just held off Ceiron Eagle for third place.

It was 10.20pm but the crowd had not moved as they debated could anyone stop Rocker on the in form Laneside Lexus, when it drew 1 on the gate with second last time Scoot around drawing 9, it seemed unlikely. But we all know that this sport can throw all sorts of surprises and problems and on the first bend Portersdown Jack in position 2 seemed to interfere with Laneside Lexus, it was not clear what happened but the upshot was it was now 20 yards behind the leaders and was boxed in in about 6^th place. There was no holding the leaders back, the quarter was reached in 28.4 and the half in 58.6, we were in for a fantastic finish and a very fast time. Six came around the last bend and the crowd were going wild for their own horse. Ciaran Morrison mad a break on Ayr Glory, with Alan Haythornthwaite alongside on Matador Hall and Andrew Stenhouse on Blue Russian all contending for the lead with Rocker blocked in on the inside. The Irish screamed Ayr Glory on but a small space once again opened up on the very inside and Laneside Lexus made its move and went from 4^th to second in a matter of yards but Ayr Glory proved a worthy winner in a great time of 1.584, Laneside Lexus was second in 1.585 and Blue Russian in third in 1.586 with Matador Hall just behind in 4^th, one of the best finishes we have seen in this race for a few years.

Once again the UK can be proud of the quality of the racing, the professionalism and integrity of the drivers, trainers and stewards and on a great track like Tir Prince set up in immaculate condition, shown live on S4C, we can match the competitiveness of racing anywhere in the world.

David Senior

Entries close at 10am Wednesday 29th July, we hope to feature a conditioned non-winners race, a 2 year old race, a trot, a maiden race and full supporting card. Entries by phone/fax to Gordon on 01492 535717.

Eight great races starting at 7pm.

On our televised race night on Monday 17th August we will be having a special Ladies Night with £000’s of prizes, champagne tent, disco, late bar and much more.

Ladies Night Poster July 09

Last night at Tir Prince the weather gods shone on us again because at 5 o’clock the drizzle stopped and almost miraculously the sun came out and cleared all the grey clouds away. The large family crowd were able to bask in the warm sunshine in shirt sleeves.

The racing lived up to expectations with Mick Lord and Jason Podmore both having good nights. In the first race a 12 horse maiden race the draw was kind to Mick driving Desert Storm and from position 1 bossed the race and won comfortably from Jason on Lightening Blue who just held off Joss Edwards on Worthy Bach by a neck.

In the two year old race Jason was very impressive on Rudd Hannover beating Vicky Gill on Rhyds Ponder into second. In the trot John Richardson won very comfortably on Jack OG Lobell and looks a good bet for next weeks Roosevelt shield, Paul Mather jnr on Piri Piri just held off John Towe on UFO Apache for second place.

The 12 horse grade 0 to grade 2 race was a cracker with local trainer/drivers Jim Mcinally and Mark Elvin on Catscam and Ayr Mission crossing the line in a rare dead heat in a very impressive time of 2.018 both from the 10 yard line, Romaine Pearson was only 2 lengths back in third on Caenwood Rhapsody.

Next came the eagerly awaited 3 year old Derby heats over 1 and a half miles, unfortunately the heats were decimated by injury and cock ups over paperwork now is the time to simplify the entry procedure and introduce clearer communication between the office and the owner/trainers. The draw was made and the first heat included Coalford Potter drawn one, Boat Toy, Celebrity Tango and Shane’s Baby in position two, three and four. In the end nobody could live with Megan Taff on Boat Toy winning by 11 lengths from Georgina Nicholson on Coalford Potter who held off John Richardson on Celebrity Tango by a further 2 lengths. In the eagerly awaited second heat we had last years top 2 year old Rhyds Destiny, Musselburgh winner Check on Jack and the in form Roddy Hannover and Majestic Rosa. This was a more interesting race with Rocker going to the front early on driving Check on Jack, closely followed by Mick Lord on Rhyds Destiny and Gary Clarke on Roddy Hannover. Coming round the last bend into the straight it looked as if Mick and Gary would catch Rocker but with an impressive turn of speed Rocker put his foot on the gas and this wonderful three year old responded immediately and put 5 lenghts between fast finishing Rhyds Destiny, the time was a quick 3.062. “Rocker” keeps rollin’ on and it will take  a very good horse to beat it next week in the final.

The final race was a very competitive 1 mile handicap and this time Mick Lord on the classy Howards Contender just held off Jason Podmore on Mach Little with Megan Taff on Ynys Mari in third, the winning time of 2.011 off 10 yards in the cool late evening was very respectable.

Now we can’t wait for next Monday 27^th July in what looks like a mouth watering nights racing. We are looking forward to seeing Laneside Lexus line up in the PFA Crock of Gold heat, the Derby final, can anyone stop Need for Run in the Roosevelt Cup will the trot record be broken? There is the Welsh Cup heat and a £1000 one mile preferred free for all for some really good top class pacers. There is bound to be a large crowd so get there early!