Equestrian
“
The old rail is going to a good home - several local trainers have agreed to take it for use on their gallops in exchange for a donation to the Injured Jockeys Fund
The parade ring surface has recently been renewed
specialist contractor Central Grass Services, which has enjoyed a long relationship with Hamilton Park. “Fraser Hillhouse project managed
Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, Hazel Peplinski, celebrates the RCA Groundstaff award with her team
the development of our new stable block in 2005, relocated the parade ring and has undertaken all of the drainage work over the years. He also works closely with our agronomist John Souter and with George on turfcare issues.” 2013 was a tough season for
Hamilton Park - whilst it was put in context by the struggles of Scottish livestock farmers in the harsh winter, the cold winds meant that grass growth was slow and that there was little ground cover by Easter as the season loomed. “Whilst we had done all this
Hamilton Park benefits from being consistent across the track, thereby eliminating draw bias
drainage work - and because there was so little grass growth, it was obvious we had done it - it took a further summer and winter before the track really came into its own,” comments Hazel. Between the 2013 and 2104
Professional development reaps rewards
George Murdoch, Track Manager (Head Groundsman) has undergone a process of professional development in terms of how he operates as part of the Hamilton Park Executive.
“George has been part of the team at Hamilton Park for twenty-nine years, working his way up from a casual labourer to the role of Head Groundsman and Track Manager,” explains Hazel. “As I am also Clerk at Kelso, I’m not at Hamilton all the time, so we needed to find a way to formalise communications between us. We came up with a pro forma which allows us to standardise groundsmanship procedures and record the work done - I can then add notes and queries where necessary and it helps me report back to our chief executive.”
She adds: “It has given George so much confidence as well as enhancing our working relationship, and makes him feel much more valued and part of the team. The role of head groundsman can feel like being a lone worker at times, so the process has proved highly beneficial.”
102 I PC APRIL/MAY 2015
seasons, the work was consolidated with annual sand dressing and some remedial sand-banding on the outside of the loop, which is used for morning canters, at a cost of £8,000. “We ended the 2014 season on
really good ground and were able to put the track to bed in excellent shape, which should stand us in good stead for this year. Ironically, we then saw other flat tracks that race later into the year suffer as the weather deteriorated.” Hazel suggests that the
improvements to the track are down to a combination of the drainage work, managing machinery movements on the turf, and using the right treatments. “It’s taking time to work out which
products are best, but it’s a relatively affordable process and an investment in the track like any other." George Murdoch explains that he initially trialled Terralift Rocastem on the home straight, and the results were impressive enough to treat the
whole track subsequently. The liquid treatment aerates the
rootzone and invigorates the indigenous microbial population, working in conjunction with mechanical aeration to decompact the rootzone by draining excess water and freeing silts, clays and fine sands. This has increased percolation of trapped water to maximise soil aeration and root extension and has helped the sward cope with the stress of mowing and wear. “We applied Rocastem at the start of the season - you could continue through the year, although it would be expensive,” he comments. Whilst racing surfaces need a
degree of thatch to provide cushioning, Terralift T-Thatch has proved useful, George says: “Applied at the right temperatures, this product contains microbes which eat through the thatch.” Hamilton Park uses as few
chemicals as possible, and Terralift organic products are the fertilisers of choice, with the aim of being able to get the sward off to a good start for the season, providing consistently good going right from the first meeting. Investment has also been made in new machinery, including John Deere 5090R and 4320 tractors as part of the routine replacement programme. “We’ve added a reconditioned
Ferrari walk behind bank mower to cut the banks alongside the track which were previously maintained using strimmers,” George adds. A pair of Toro mowers join the fleet
for the first time - a Groundsmaster WAM for cutting the track and a triple cylinder mower for the lawns. “We were offered a very
competitive deal for the Toros,” he comments. “We swapped to using a WAM on the track in recent years after trying rear and then front- mounted tractor mowers, as we find the ride-ons handle the undulations better without missing or scalping.” Cut heights are set to 3.5-4in,
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156