Its meetings in the fixture list published today will include Saturday afternoons in January and March, and a three-day Flat meeting in August.

Ffos Las clerk of the course Tim Long was understandably delighted.

He said: "We're absolutely thrilled. The Walters Group has built a fantastic course, and in terms of number of fixtures it needs to be up there to fulfil anything like its potential.

"As someone who is employed by them to manage their racing product, I just feel absolute relief that it's all gone well and justified all their hard work and skill putting the track together.

"The comments made about Tuesday's first Flat meeting by well-respected trainers and jockeys at the top of their profession in the Flat game were extremely positive and it's a really good base to build from now.

"We would hope both the jumps and Flat programmes will develop to reflect the strength of the course."

The total number of fixtures next year is 1503, up 13 on 2009, when including the 10 extra fixtures added in 2009 as part of the 48th Levy Scheme agreement.

However, the British Horseracing Authority believe this number of fixtures is not sustainable and that the Levy process needs a overhaul.

Ruth Quinn, BHA director of racing, said: "Although total horse numbers are currently down by 2% compared with 2008, the demand from the horse population for opportunities to race continues to exceed the opportunities provided by the fixture list, as illustrated by the fact that there were over 6,500 eliminations in the first half of 2009.

"It also remains the fact that six of the top 10 races took place in this country and that our reputation for quality remains as strong as ever.

"It is pleasing that we have made progress in a number of areas highlighted by the Strategic Review of the Fixture List. This includes adding two new Bank Holiday fixtures and a special fixture to coincide with 'The Perth 800' celebrations, as well as improving the balance between turf and all-weather fixtures during the main Flat season, with 21 previously all-weather fixtures switching to turf venues.

"Jump racing continues to thrive and 2010 sees a record number of fixtures - 590 from 571, this increase arising partly out of our desire to ensure that there are no afternoons during the core Jump season with more than one AWT fixture.

"Yet there remains a considerable concern that we have not been able to make more progress in other areas of the fixture list, particularly when it comes to working out the place racing is now playing in the modern betting market, and having an open and transparent partnership with betting operators.

"Real information on which we can best plan our fixture list to take account of betting revenues through the Levy is still badly lacking, and we cannot be confident that the fixture list is as it should be.

"We have in many ways had to place our trust in what we have been told by betting operators through the Levy Board.

"However, there is a real question over whether we should be running this number of fixtures, at the times they are running, with the current central funding, in order to maximise the return to the sport.

"Our overall view remains that the current relationship between racing and betting through the Levy process is badly broken, and needs to change radically.

"The fact is that the Levy return is the lowest since 2003, with no confidence that this can be reversed, and in that time the fixture list has expanded from 1,270 to 1,503 with an increased demand on people and the sport's finances.

"There are many complex issues involved, but we have grave reservations that this is simply not sustainable and will have to keep very close attention on developments."

Traditionalists will be delighted to know there will be no racing on Good Friday (April 2).

The Flat turf season will open with Doncaster's Lincoln meeting on Saturday, March 27, while the four-day St Leger Festival climaxes with the world's oldest Classic itself on September 11.

The Newmarket Classics, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, will be held on May 1 and 2 respectively while the Oaks and the Derby take pride of place at Epsom on June 4 and 5.

Racing's big social event, Royal Ascot, is in the diary for June 15-19 while the five days of Glorious Goodwood goes from July 27 to 31.

Other big Flat dates include the Coral-Eclipse on July 3 and York's four-day Ebor Festival (August 17-20).

Jump fans can look forward to the Cheltenham Festival from March 16-19 while the Grand National will be on the third day of Aintree's spring meeting on April 10.