“We start at 4.30am on the morning of the Derby to cut the lawns, mark and stripe the parade ring and mark up the winners circle, watering if necessary”
system would be better and easier to control but such a high site gets very windy, which would render any pop- up sprinklers redundant and wasteful.”
The issue of irrigation is aggravated further because Epsom Downs is a protected location and the sole method of sourcing water is via the mains. “We’re pumping out seventeen litres of water a second when we run flat out, which gets extremely costly,” bemoans Nigel. “Also, we currently have no ability to conserve water on a large scale. Our irrigation system has two holding tanks, which are designed to hold rainwater, and the quantity they hold would only be a drop in the ocean in terms of the quantity that we need to function properly.” Looking ahead,
• Reduces Nematode populations in sports grounds and golf courses
• Quick, clean and easy to apply • Economical - 1 litre treats 500m2
• Improves the look and quality of the grass
• Natural product - safe to use in public areas
sustainability is becoming an increasingly prominent issue for the course, which is searching for ways to grow more self-reliant, while also balancing the environmental concerns of the Downs. “Our primary aims for the near future will be a focus on water conservation, water retention and reducing our pesticides use,” Nigel states. “We compost as much as we can, including all our clippings but there is scope to do much more, especially recycling horse waste more efficiently.” A Waste2Water recycling system is in the pipeline, with Jockey Club Racecourses, Epsom’s owner, looking to seal a group-wide deal to install them across their sites. But, at the Surrey site, much will depend on local bylaws. The Downs location brings with it key responsibilities for Nigel, who has to juggle the successful running of a Grade
1 racecourse with the sensitivities that come with protected land.
One of those tasks is to sit on the board of ten Epsom Downs conservators, which include two other representatives of the course, one from the training board and six local councillors. The board’s remit is to balance the needs of horseracing with the protection of the Downs and its use by the public, an issue that is the subject of its quarterly meetings. “The primary danger to the Downs is the increased use of them by the public,” states Nigel. “There are many activities that go on throughout the year on the Downs, such as kite flying, remote control racing, hack racing and, of course, dog walking. It’s partly our responsibility to ensure that such activities aren’t detrimental to the Downs or the racing season.” Course preparations begin in early April with a light feed using 12:4:8 Organic Delta granular feed. “This gets us in shape for the first meet on 21 April,” says Nigel. “Like many courses, we suffered problems earlier this year, particularly in mid- February, and the extremely cold winter left us with snow damage to the grass blades.” “We topdressed and overseeded the affected areas with a ryegrass mix and finished off by brushing lightly with a Greentech MaxiBrush to remove any dead matter built up over the winter.”
The first weekend in June marks the beginning of Epsom’s signature meetings, and the Investec Derby is the jewel in its crown - this year being the second in a five-
ECOspray Limited
Grange Farm, Hilborough, Thetford Norfolk IP26 5BT United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)1760 756100 /+44(0)7810 305605 Fax: +44(0)1760 756313
Email:
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