The Developing Role of Artificial Surfaces Experiences of Great Britain

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The Developing Role of Artificial Surfaces
Experiences of Great Britain
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The Early Years

• Lingfield Park 1989 Equitrack
• Southwell 1989 Fibresand

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Why Artificial?

• To maintain betting revenues in the winter months
• To continue racing in adverse weather

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Wolverhampton 1993 Fibresand

• Introduced in December 2003
• First floodlit track in Great Britain
• Saturday night racing attracted healthy local
  following

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Lingfield Park 2001
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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
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Lingfield Park new track

• Martin Dwyer Its a perfect riding surface, with
  lots of bounce, its like a carpet!

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Southwell Fibresand

• Substantial Kick Back

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No kickback at Lingfield Park
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Since 2001

• Improved surface
• Improved prize money
• Group 3 Winter Derby 100,000
• Better Horses

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Median Ratings
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Since 2004

• Wolverhampton 2004 Polytrack
• Kempton Park 2006 Polytrack
• Dundalk 2007 Polytrack
• Great Leighs 2008 Polytrack

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Flat Fixtures
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Group 3 and Listed Races
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What Next ?

• More races?
• Requirements of the horse population
• Requirements of the Levy

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Turf vs. Artificial Surface

• Turf Traditional Surface
• Turf/Artificial Low Injury Rates
• Artificial Consistent Going
• Artificial Frequency of Racing

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Lingfield Park in the Snow
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The Future

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

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Thank you