Equestrian How the TurfTrax electronic GoingStick works
Designed and built by Cranfield University and now managed by TurfTrax, the electronic GoingStick system has been in official use for a number of years now. A variety of readings are taken with the device at various known data points set around the course and the data is then sent to Turftrax who are able to provide up to date going maps for every racecourse in the UK.
Using a standardised and systematic approach to each going report helps to build up a highly detailed audit trail for Clerks and groundstaff. When used over a sustained period of time, this audit trail provides a database of information on which future course management decisions may be made.
Initially, a full Differential Global Positional System (DGPS) survey will be carried out on the course by TurfTrax. This typically involves a site visit lasting up to two days to accurately map the outline of the course as well as all key features, including starts, furlong markers, finish lines and fence positions.
Along with the DGPS survey, a full EMI soil scan and topography survey can be included. This information is used to build up a picture of the course and identify where there is likely to be variability in going.
The EMI and topography scans themselves are useful tools for any planned changes to course layout, design and/or drainage projects.
course’s popularity. Ludlow Racecourse is reputed
Once the initial survey is completed and fully analysed, the Going Grid map is prepared showing each area in which GoingStick or official going readings should be taken, to produce an overall map.
Typically, the map is displayed on the TurfTrax website with a direct link on the racecourse website which updates automatically with each going report. This provides an excellent opportunity for the course to remind trainers of a forthcoming race meeting and perhaps increase entry numbers.
Additionally, SMS text messages can be used to alert trainers, this method is particularly useful for last minute going changes or inspection/abandonment information.
to be one of the UK’s oldest. Tradition has it that, in the fourteenth century, soldiers from Ludlow Castle came to the site not only to practise archery but also to match their horses. Records show that the course was in existence as far back as 1729.
The course nestles in the
heart of the Shropshire countryside within two miles of Ludlow Castle and the town centre. It is a National Hunt course and stages seventeen meetings a year. It has an ‘olde worlde’ atmosphere due, in part, to the main stand retaining its original Edwardian facade, and provides a wonderful setting for punters and horses alike.
The racecourse offers two
Table of the official Going results for Ludlow in recent weeks Date
Official Going
26-Jan-15 C: Soft (Good to Soft) H: Soft
18-Feb-15 Good to Soft (Soft in places)
26-Feb-15 C: Good to Soft (Soft in places) H: Soft
GoingStick Index
5.6 on Monday at 09:45 5.9 on Wednesday at 09:45
5.6 on Thursday at 10:00
19-Mar-15 C: Good (Good to Soft in places) H: Good to Soft (Good in places) 5.9 on Thursday at 08:45
02-Apr-15 Soft (Good to Soft in places) 5.1 on Thursday at 09:00
21-Apr-15 Good (Good to Firm in places) 7.3 on Tuesday at 08:30 10-May-15 Good
8.3 on Sunday at 08:45 118 I PC JUNE/JULY 2015
tracks - a hurdle and steeple chase course - both sharing the back and home straights. Usually, there are seven races on the Ludlow card and, over the season, there are a series of midweek, weekend and evening races to be enjoyed during the racing year calendar. Simon has three long serving full time staff to help maintain the course; Roger Jones (41 years), Chris Jones (30 years) and Dave Roberts (15 years), along with twelve casuals who undertake additional and ongoing tasks around the ground. This crew also carry out divot repairs after racing and help with moving running rails, and repairing fences. The full time working day is usually 7.30am to 4.30pm however, on race days, they will often put in a twelve hour shift. It can take up to three hours to move the running rails and, if watering is required, can take even longer. Most of the course
preparation work is done in the week leading up to the race meeting, usually getting the mowing done the day before a meeting. Fences will be repaired and the running rail moved, although some sections cannot be put out until race day because the course is shared with Ludlow Golf Club, with some parts being in play, mainly as fairways. They run a very tight ship at
Ludlow. Equipment is the minimum needed to maintain the course. Dave drives a Case tractor to operate the front mounted 12ft Votex mower which is used to cut all twenty acres of grass on the course. It usually takes a full day to mow the complete course; the turf is maintained at a height of 75mm between May and September and raised to 110mm during the October to May racing season. Keeping enough moisture in
the ground during the summer months and early autumn is one of Simon’s main priorities. To help him achieve this, he has three 250 metre Bauer hose reels and booms for use around the course. Water is sourced from a reservoir and a bore hole on the course and is pumped through one and a half miles of six inch ring main. He applies between 10-18mm
of water on each application, aiming to maintain the course with a going of good to soft/firm or better during the racing season. Once the last meeting has
been staged in May, Simon begins a renovation programme of the entire take-off and landing areas. These are repaired and oversown using an amenity ryegrass fescue mixtures. All bare areas and
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