Equestrian


“


Trainers who run horses here like the fact that we don’t water, and that the well-established turf structure has an almost downland feel to it


The new parade ring includes a spacious area for placed horses from each race, with unhindered viewing from the Kelston suite and adjacent owners' and trainers' facilities


The course itself, which first hosted racing in 1811, presents unique challenges: “It’s the highest flat track in the country at 800ft above sea level, and has a ‘microclimate’ whereby localised rainfall often passes by, fog can descend in July and a day without breeze is unusual,” explains Head Groundsman Andy Hogston, the fourth generation of his family in the role at Bath. It is also managed without any watering


system. “The turf is highly resilient and it has to be because, in July, it can resemble a desert. But, as soon as rain comes, the growth comes back,” says Katie. Bath’s flat racing-only programme is well


suited by the conditions and, as the soil dries out, it becomes friable and regains some give. “Trainers who run horses here like the fact


Jockeys walk out into the rejigged parade ring


We can also topdress them with sand, which helps to allay jockeys’ concerns about their horses slipping


”


The Kelston hospitality suite has had a major facelift, with glass balconies overlooking the racecourse


108 I PC JUNE/JULY 2016


that we don’t water, and that the well- established turf structure has an almost downland feel to it,” comments Katie. “When our agronomist digs a soil pit, you can see that there is a really good root structure.”


One important issue for racecourses is to


maintain traction on bends so that horses do not slip - a particular problem when there is rainfall onto dry ground immediately before a meeting. Addressing this on the top and bottom bends at Bath has been a major project for Katie since she moved to the course from Hereford in 2010. “The bends are mown tight to improve grip. We can also topdress them with sand, which helps to allay jockeys’ concerns about their horses slipping but, on such dry ground, this improves the drainage further and can make the going even firmer,” she says. However, more permanent action was


needed, especially as the repeated divot filling had created an adverse camber and a number of ‘hogs backs’ (humps) round the bottom bend. An incident where two horses fell in July 2011 brought matters to a head, and Katie was able to put plans in place to widen the track and realign the bend.


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