Post on 19-Jan-2016
Lingfield Park 1989 Equitrack
Southwell 1989 Fibresand
Why Artificial?
To maintain betting revenues in the winter months
To continue racing in adverse weather
Introduced in December 2003
First floodlit track in Great Britain
Saturday night racing attracted healthy local following
Lingfield Park 2001
Polytrack 175mm
65mm thickness of 20mm Open graded base course macadam (special mix for MCE)
300mm of hard limestone or granite 40mm to dust
150mm perforated plastic pipe in hard lime stone or granite 40mm
track width
300mm
300mm
300mm
Ground level
300mm
Soil Shoulder
600mm
Not shown 100m spaced lateral drains to infield v-ditch
Not to scale
Compacted 150mm of 40mm clean hard limestone or granite (no dust)
Ground level
Lingfield Park – Cross Section
Lingfield Park new track
Martin Dwyer “It’s a perfect riding surface, with lots of bounce, it’s like a carpet!”
Southwell Fibresand
Substantial Kick Back
No kickback at Lingfield Park
Since 2001
Improved surface
Improved prize money
Group 3 Winter Derby £100,000
Better Horses
96
98
100
102
104
106
108
110
112
114
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
Med
ian
Han
dic
ap
Median Ratings
Median Ratings
Since 2004
Wolverhampton 2004 Polytrack
Kempton Park 2006 Polytrack
Dundalk 2007 Polytrack
Great Leighs 2008 Polytrack
Flat Fixtures
0200400600800
1000
1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
Year
Num
ber o
f m
eetin
gs
Turf
AWT
TOTAL
0
5
10
15
20
25
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Group 3
Listed
What Next ?
More races?
Requirements of the horse population
Requirements of the Levy
Turf vs. Artificial Surface
Turf – Traditional Surface
Turf/Artificial – Low Injury Rates
Artificial – Consistent Going
Artificial – Frequency of Racing
Lingfield Park in the Snow
The Future
Artificial Surface or Arc de Triomphe for Duke of Marmalade ?
Group 1 Races on Artificial Surfaces
Increased International Competition
Thank you