Equestrian
The shortening of a horse’s stride as it approaches the fence pushes the soil up towards the take-off board over time
also supplies its irrigation water. “We are either ladling it on or ladling it off!” Flooding not only devastates racecourse buildings and causes compaction, but can also kill the grass if it is underwater for a week. “It can take the course six months to recover fully,” points out Stephen, “Although the track is usually raceable within two weeks of a flood, nevertheless it remains patchy and inconsistent.” But, water is vital for summer jumping, where the British Horseracing Authority recommends that courses provide good going wherever possible. “We always aim to provide a predominance of ‘good’ ground throughout the summer. Some trainers complain that they would prefer more ‘good to firm’, but it has been proven that there is less risk of injury to horses and jockeys on good going.”
Stratford uses both tow line and boom irrigation systems, and Stephen comments that the tow line is a lot quicker, capable of applying 6-8mm per hour across the course. However, the boom has its place for selective watering and irrigating in windy conditions. The ideal is to water over a long period, applying lower rates of irrigation.
Whilst the wet summer
proved difficult for many sporting venues, at Stratford it made the task of producing good ground easier, he reflects. “We only lost one meeting,
on May 9th, but we were extremely lucky, although it is a well-drained track. Racing ground is unpredictable though - the back straight was wet in May, but is absolutely fine now.” Mowing proved tricky in 2012, when some courses were even unable to cut before summer jumping meetings. A front mount mower is used at Stratford, with any clumps of clippings collected by hand. “The grass can lie when it is long and wet,” comments Stephen, “and mowing is a time consuming operation as we can be cutting three times a week in the peak season.” It’s a small but dedicated team at Stratford, with just three full time staff including Eric, his son Matthew who takes charge in his absence, and Ben Stanley.
Eric has been at Stratford for sixteen years, after twenty- five years at Newton Abbott and stints at Kelso and Warwick. Stephen is in his fifteenth year at Stratford as MD and Clerk of Course, and was previously a partner at estate agents and land agents Knight Frank.
Experience clearly tells in
presenting the best of jump racing to a knowledgeable, enthusiastic audience, whilst battling the worst of the British weather. Stratford can look forward to an exciting year ahead, whatever the elements throw at
Stephen and his team.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2013 PC 87
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