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The Developing Role of Artificial Surfaces Experiences of Great Britain

Explore the early years of artificial surfaces in British horse racing, from Equitrack in 1989 to modern Polytrack at Lingfield Park, Wolverhampton, and more. Discover the benefits, impact on racing revenues, and the future of this technology.

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The Developing Role of Artificial Surfaces Experiences of Great Britain

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  1. The Developing Role of Artificial Surfaces Experiences of Great Britain

  2. The Early Years • Lingfield Park 1989 Equitrack • Southwell 1989 Fibresand

  3. Why Artificial? • To maintain betting revenues in the winter months • To continue racing in adverse weather

  4. Wolverhampton 1993 Fibresand • Introduced in December 2003 • First floodlit track in Great Britain • Saturday night racing attracted healthy local following

  5. Lingfield Park 2001

  6. Lingfield Park – Cross Section Not to scale Soil Shoulder track width Ground level 300mm 600mm 300mm 300mm 300mm Not shown 100m spaced lateral drains to infield v-ditch 150mm perforated plastic pipe in hard lime stone or granite 40mm Polytrack 175mm Ground level 65mm thickness of 20mm Open graded base course macadam (special mix for MCE) Compacted 150mm of 40mm clean hard limestone or granite (no dust) 300mm of hard limestone or granite 40mm to dust

  7. Lingfield Park new track • Martin Dwyer “It’s a perfect riding surface, with lots of bounce, it’s like a carpet!”

  8. Southwell Fibresand • Substantial Kick Back

  9. No kickback at Lingfield Park

  10. Since 2001 • Improved surface • Improved prize money • Group 3 Winter Derby £100,000 • Better Horses

  11. Median Ratings

  12. Since 2004 Wolverhampton 2004 Polytrack Kempton Park 2006 Polytrack Dundalk 2007 Polytrack Great Leighs 2008 Polytrack

  13. Flat Fixtures

  14. Group 3 and Listed Races

  15. What Next ? • More races? • Requirements of the horse population • Requirements of the Levy

  16. Turf vs. Artificial Surface • Turf – Traditional Surface • Turf/Artificial – Low Injury Rates • Artificial – Consistent Going • Artificial – Frequency of Racing

  17. Lingfield Park in the Snow

  18. The Future • Artificial Surface or Arc de Triomphe for Duke of Marmalade ? • Group 1 Races on Artificial Surfaces • Increased International Competition

  19. Thank you

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