Equestrian
The Newton Abbott team l-r: Richard Aggett, Stable Manager; Mark White, Seasonal Groundsman; Colin Bushin, Maintenance Man: Jason Loosemore, Clerk of the Course and Stuart Ranson, Head Groundsman. Inset: Wayne Hockley
Like most racecourses, the underlying soils
can vary quite significantly; there will be variances in soil types as you go round a track, which brings its own set of management issues. The dominant soil type at Newton Abbott is mainly clay loam, with some areas of heavier clay and others with sandier soil. Within the course, there is an old canal basin, with a number of drainage ditches running along the race track. These ditches help with keeping the course well drained, but can also keep the water table fairly high during the winter months. In the past, Newton Abbott used to hold
race meetings during the winter months, however, the presence of the high water table often compromised the drainage capacity of the site, resulting in cancellations. This was a key reason for changing over to summer racing. The course hosts eighteen race meetings and a number of other corporate events during the year. The number of races per meeting, however, has to be carefully managed because these are governed by the number of horses that can be stabled; at present, this stands at eighty, all being housed in the recently refurbished stable block. Jason’s role is to ensure the course is fit
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Drainage ditches keep the course well drained but keep the water table high in the winter
Within the course, there is an old canal basin, with a number of drainage ditches running along the race track
for purpose and that it provides a safe and consistent surface for racing. Therefore, a lot of his time, and that of his groundstaff team, is spent preparing and repairing the track and carrying out improvement works, when funds allow.
Being also the Clerk of Course at Taunton
means Jason has to split his time between the two venues, however, because the two courses have different racing seasons, there is only some overlap in April. There is a grounds team of five at Newton
Abbott. Jason’s assistant is Stuart Ranson, who has worked at the course for nineteen years, supported by Richard Aggett, whose main job is stable manager during the racing
season, plus Wayne Hockley and Mark White, who is drafted in through the busy summer season. Colin Bushin also helps out when needed, but mainly undertakes general building maintenance duties. Jason was keen to mention that the course
had invested heavily, in recent years, in new drainage down the back and home straight, with M J Abbotts installing a primary and secondary drainage system. Being a relatively narrow track, at less than thirty metres wide, means it is crucial that the ground is free draining and capable of dealing with the amount of wear it has on race days. The rails on the bends are moved during race meetings to spread the wear. Maintaining grass cover is essential, so a
robust mowing regime is in place to promote a dense sward, often cutting two or three times a week during the growing season at a height of 100mm-125mm. It usually takes three hours to cut the whole track using a large tractor front mounted Votex rotary mower.
A Kubota zero turn ride-on rotary mower
is used for the smaller amenity areas and parade ground. Both of these main mowers are at the end of their working life and Jason is in the process of looking for some replacements. The rest of the hand work is
PC APRIL/MAY 2014 I 107
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