“Nick the Silver caused mayhem when he broke through the plastic rail, ran down through the woods, joined the nearby Salisbury to Blandford road, galloped along the road two miles into the city and was found munching the grass in someone’s front garden”
are required to have such a report prepared annually under British Horse Racing Authority regulations,” he says. Given the value of the horses racing on any given day, that’s not surprising. “Every racecourse runs
differently though,” Jeremy adds, “so, knowing the course inside out and discovering its weak spots and its individual characteristics, is not only crucial to good maintenance practice but also helps keep groundstaff on their toes in the search for alternative methods of tackling persistent problem areas.” “We have three or four that tend to cause us most problems with damage - down the hill between five and four furlongs is most common as that’s where the horses dig their toes in. The day after racing, we have to tread back in the holes and repair any damage.” Good post-race practice
ensures the team brings the course back up to its best ready for racing once more. “We have a team from the estate that comes and helps with the after-race repairs - the worst of the holes are filled back in and I’ll then check it a few days later, railing off any areas that haven’t recovered properly,” Jeremy explains. The more intensive racing
programme, between June and July, when fixtures are often held every six days, demands that additional help, he adds. “Our four permanent grounds staff simply could not handle all the work themselves, so we have to recruit casuals over the summer to do some of the smaller jobs.” Richard continues with a smile: “Often, all of us have to be prepared to lend a
hand during the very busy periods. Even Jeremy will sometimes have to help with a bit of treading back.” Keeping the course in fine fettle over intensive race periods can throw up some big challenges, but the biggest of all, says Richard, is to be prepared for anything on race day. Experience comes to his aid because time has taught him to pay heed to the early indicators. “Often, if we have a quiet morning, you know it’s going to be hectic in the afternoon and vice versa,” he reveals. Being prepared for all eventualities is one thing but, sometimes, something crops up to frustrate any preparation. Five years ago, a racehorse called Nick the Silver caused mayhem when he broke through the plastic rail, ran down through the woods, joined the nearby Salisbury to Blandford road, galloped along the road two miles into the city and was found munching the grass in someone’s front garden. “It could have been quite a long night looking for a horse in Salisbury,” jokes Jeremy, “yet the story does emphasise one of the most important aspects of the job - incident management.” Blessed (cursed he might contend) with one of the tightest bends in British horseracing, Jeremy knows, all to well, the importance of keeping on top of potential problem spots on course. “We’ve found the best way to combat the bend is to water the ground well, so it is on the soft side of good, so that the horses can get their hooves in,” explains Jeremy. “There’s nothing worse than having firm ground with either lush or slightly damp grass.”
Credit – at least £100 for your old trailer
Crunch – no crunch just a great deal
The Indespension SE07064R is an ideal trailer for grounds maintenance.
Our package includes a spare wheel, prop stands and delivery and we will give you at least £100 for your existing trailer no matter what the condition.
To fi nd your nearest Indespension store or speak to one of our technical sales team
call 0845 3 720 720 (local rate call) or visit
www.indespension.com
Towbars • Trailers • Parts • Hire • Servicing • Roof Boxes Conditions apply
Blueriver Steel Buildings Ltd 01603 720259
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11
£100 MINIMUM TRADE-IN
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