A special event will take place this weekend to celebrate Ffos Las racecourse's 15th birthday.

Ffos Las Racecourse, located in Carmarthenshire, is set to host a grand 15th Birthday Raceday celebration on Sunday, June 23.

As the UK's youngest racecourse, it's an occasion not easily overlooked.

Planned festivities include seven top-tier flat races and live performances by The Brothers of Blues and Bjorn to Rock.

Furthermore, former Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby star Mike Phillips is scheduled to conduct a Q and A session.

Opportunity awaits for event attendees interested in racing, as the event will provide insights on horse racing and potentially facilitate direct involvement as a racehorse owner through syndicates.

Additionally, no birthday party would be complete without a cake, and Ffos Las plans to offer a large one with plenty of slices for all.

Ffos Las Racecourse first opened its doors near Trimsaran on Thursday, June 18, 2009, making it the first new turf racecourse in the UK since 1927.

Its opening fulfilled the dream of businessman and previous owner, Dai Walters.

The first-ever winner at Ffos Las was a horse named Plunkett, ridden by Irishman Donal Fahy and trained by Evan Williams. It won in front of a 10,000 strong crowd.

Mr Williams, still actively training winners 15 years later, said: "I am very proud of that achievement and equally very proud of every Welsh trainer and young jockey that has come through at Ffos Las and gained winners.

"Local riders who have come through and performed at Ffos – like James and Sean Bowen – are wonderful ambassadors for the sport in Wales.

"Ffos Las has joined that list of established great Welsh sporting arenas, and that’s something we should all rightly be celebrating."

Notable figures at the opening day of the racecourse were multi-winning champion jockey AP McCoy and commentator Peter O'Sullevan.

Former Wales rugby star Jonathan Davies, who grew up in Trimsaran, also graced the event and has since had the main grandstand named after him.

Reflecting on those moments, Mr Williams added: "It was a great day – very memorable for everyone who was there.

"It’s like everything in sport, if you have good facilities – and those at Ffos Las are absolutely first class – then it inspires people to come up through the grass roots."

Currently, Ffos Las enjoys a reputable status as a thriving racecourse, attracting an increasing number of top-quality horses.

Mr Williams concluded with a note of confidence, stating: "Ffos Las has survived 15 years, it's got a fabulous reputation as somewhere to go racing, we are getting more top quality horses racing there, and I’m convinced that Ffos Las will still be alive and kicking long after we are all dead and gone."