migration of material to the inside, following the camber. Kickback, where the surface is displaced by the horses’ feet flicking material up and backwards was greater, as was the level of injury to the animals themselves. The tracks required a high level of maintenance. The migration of material to the inside meant that regrading and depth testing was an on going operation. During dry weather irrigation was a major requirement, with the track being irrigated prior to racing using an automated pop up system. During cold weather, with moisture being an important element of the track, the battle to stop frost penetration was not easy. Applications of vacuum dried salt and a requirement to move the material at least three times an hour, to stop it freezing, was hard on the staff and the track. And that only worked until the temperature dropped below minus 8 Celsius! With the development of modern materials the early fibre sand systems are now being replaced with new second- generation products such as Polytrack, made from a blend of polypropylene fibres, recycled rubber and silica sand covered in a wax. The resulting product provides greater elasticity than other riding track materials, thus lessening the chance of bone fracture that can result from repeated exposure to high impact. In a shock energy absorption test, polytrack outperformed clay surfaces, demonstrating a higher shock absorption rate and a lower elasticity repulsion rate. In addition, unlike other surfaces, it quickly regains its original shape after hoof penetration, further reducing stress impact on tendons. Its unique mix has vastly improved performance and provides a consistent safe surface for racing.
WOLVERHAMPTON replaced their old fibre sand system with the new 2nd generation Polytrack in 2004. At £100 per tonne it is significantly more expensive than the fibre sand, however savings are made with reduced maintenance costs. Irrigation is no longer required and the material does not migrate in the way that the original surfaces did, thus greatly reducing the need to regrade the surface.
The new track is a one mile oval, tight left handed with a 180 yard run in. The bends have a camber of 4½ degrees, with a transition into latterly flat straights. The track is constructed of a fully grid piped drainage system overlaid with 40mm diameter coniferous limestone to a depth of 200 mm. On top is 100mm of 20mm diameter open textured porous tarmac and 175mm of the polytrack artificial surface material. Wolverhampton’s Clerk of the Course,
Fergus Cameron and Estates Manager, Geoff Adcock, have been very pleased with the new surface’s performance. They count amongst its many advantages:
• Increased safety for both horse and rider.
• Consistent surface in most weather conditions.
• Reduced kickback. • Less labour intensive to maintain. • No watering requirement. • Popular amongst trainers and jockeys.
Geoff first came to Wolverhampton Racecourse in the capacity of Assistant Head Groundsman some nine years ago and, within 3 years, found himself promoted to Estates Manager responsible for both the grounds and buildings. In total he has nine staff to look after
the track, grounds, gardens, car parking and stable areas. Four are employed to maintain the track, two look after the remaining grounds and car parking areas that include a playground facility, and three are responsible for the stable areas.
IN theory, maintaining the polytrack surface is fairly straightforward. All it requires a programme of harrowing, cultivations and rolling to have it ready for racing.
Geoff and his team use a combination of specialist machines to maintain the track, namely a power harrow for deep cultivation to help take out any deep forming pans caused by compaction, a Vaderstad Rexius Carrier to remove intermediate compaction to a depth of 100mm, and the Gallop Master that prepares/finishes the surface for racing. Track preparation prior to race days involves the use of the power harrow, if heavily compacted after rain or racing, or the Vaderstad machine, for less severe decompaction. The latter may be used on the morning of racing after heavy overnight rain, and the former will usually be used anything up to three days before a race meeting, leaving time for the track to be re-instated to the required consistency. Once this has been completed the two 5m wide Gallop Masters are then used to re-level and firm the surface. Weather conditions and particularly the level of moisture will determine the number of times that the Gallop Master will go over the surface (usually the drier the track the greater the number of runs).
The track condition can vary dependant on the weather. Generally, during the winter months, particularly after rain, it tends to become compacted. Heavy frost will necessitate the track being 'opened up' with the power harrow. This will allow the water repellant properties of the wax binder to remove
racecourses in the world
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