I


n recent years, Worcester has become best known as the course that switched its jump racing to summer to avoid being flooded when the adjoining River Severn burst its banks - only to disappear under water in July 2007 with the summer deluge that affected much of the country.


Ongoing investment by operator


Arena Leisure has enabled Clerk of the Course, Fergus Cameron, and Estates Manager, Tim Radford, to get water off the course and help the turf recover quickly, should the worst happen now. The British summer being what it is, the river can also be used to the course’s advantage, providing valuable irrigation water in a relatively dry season such as 2010. Trainers are understandably sensitive to the risks of firm going for horses jumping fences at around 35mph - as well as being too wet, it can easily be too dry for racing. This summer, 1,142 horses ran at the course’s seventeen racedays, averaging sixty-seven per day, or nine per race.


An impressive total for jump racing’s ‘low season’, proving that the team’s efforts have worked. As winter draws in, Worcester looks very different to the image presented on its summer heydays. At the end of the season, the nine steeplechase fences and six French-style brush hurdles are taken into storage - before they float away, Tim jokes - and their condition assessed. Half of the steeplechase fences are replaced each year. Staff are also deployed elsewhere, as


Tim explains: “We have a small full time staff, as we only race for half the year, so two groundsmen go to (sister Arena Leisure course) Wolverhampton, and I will spend some time at Wolverhampton, Southwell or another course within the group. We rely heavily on seasonal staff, starting off the new season with eight temporary groundsmen. I’m fortunate to have some experienced machinery operators who come back year after year.” With the course clear, attention is turned to drainage, with improvements made in 2010 by contractor, D W Clark


Ltd., to the top end near the river and the viaduct bend, where the course meets the town centre. “There’s a gradient between the


hurdles and chase course, and irrigation water runs across, so we’re building a new catch drain to alleviate this, which will flow into the existing ring main,” explains Tim. “Laterals are also being added from the furlong marker to the half furlong point.” Drainage is an issue - even on the higher ground. In the back straight the drains run into the river but, when the flood level drops, water can still sit in hollows on the raised ground. “There is a valve to stop the drainage water backing up into the drains when the river rises, but it does come through the land drains, so it is a constant battle in wet periods,” he says. The viaduct bend needs particular attention as the course narrows here and, although the racing line is stepped out after every meeting to provide fresh ground, in June and July, when racing takes place every week, it is just three or four weeks before a particular area is


Fergus Cameron


Focusing the racing programme on the summer months, and a concerted effort by the grounds team to provide consistently good going, has been rewarded by racehorse trainers voting with their feet and sending the highest number of runners in summer jumping to Worcester Racecourse.


Jane Carley talks to Clerk of the Course, Fergus Cameron and Estates Manager, Tim Radford


Arising from the flood


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