Equestrian
“
We are looking into a more extensive fertiliser programme for 2017 and have had soil samples taken to establish exactly what is needed. We use controlled release at Worcester
Worcester Racecourse groundsmen Duncan Penny and Steve Green build the new fences Part of the challenge for the grounds team
is that much of the maintenance equipment was given away to other racecourses after the closure, and a gradual re-equipping is taking place. John Deere ride-on and push mowers are
used to maintain the public areas where the lawns, in addition to the parade ring, will be striped to improve appearance. Vast expanses of conifer hedge around the
course and car parks are being brought under control with long-reach hedgetrimmers, whilst additional strimmers have been added to help with tidying up. Another important task was to renovate
Executive Director and Clerk of the Course Rebecca Davies
Many people were helpful - Chepstow Racecourse supplied some seed when I needed it and Votex are local so they kept the mower up and running
” Head groundsman John Glover keeps on top of the mowing 84 I PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016
the sites previously occupied by the point-to- point fences. “These areas were decompacted and reseeded and watered over the hot summer. I used grass clippings to keep the moisture in and then germination sheets - the recent rain was helpful, plus some fertiliser,” explains John. He was able to keep the fertiliser
programme in place, using forty-four bags over the twenty-two acres of racing surface.
Applications before and after the first
fixture have stood the sward in good stead going into the winter, whilst the late summer storms gave much needed moisture. “We are looking into a more extensive
fertiliser programme for 2017 and have had soil samples taken to establish exactly what is needed,” explains Libby O'Flaherty, Worcester’s Clerk of the Course. “We use controlled release products at Worcester, which works well.” Summer herbicide sprays and the
application of Siren - now revoked - for leatherjackets also contributed to maintaining turf health. A couple of passes with the Verti-drain -
for the first time in four years - in the run up to racing, helped with aeration and encouraged rooting to give the turf a further boost. It also provided insurance against a dry autumn, as irrigation is another looming challenge. “We have recently commissioned a
borehole feasibility study, with the view of investing considerably next season to allow
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