The track surface of a horse racing track refers to the material of which the track is made. There are three types of track surfaces used in modern horse racing.[1] These are:
Artificial or Synthetic, the collective term for a number of proprietary man-made surfaces in use at a number of locations around the world.
The style of racing differs between surfaces, with dirt races tending to have the fastest pace,[2] while turf racing often comes down to a sprint in the stretch. Races on artificial surfaces tend to play out somewhere in between. Anecdotally, American bettors consider dirt racing to be more predictable, which makes it a more popular medium for betting purposes.[1] Weather conditions affect the speed of the different surfaces too, and grading systems have been developed to indicate the track condition (known as the "going" in the UK and Ireland). Turf surfaces are the most affected by changes in the weather, and many turf horses will have a strong preference for a specific type of going.
Synthetic surfaces
Synthetic surfaces allow racing to take place in bad weather conditions, when it may otherwise be cancelled, and for this reason are sometimes referred to as All Weather surfaces. Manufacturers of synthetic racetrack surface materials promote the fact that synthetic tracks have drainage attributes that are better than natural surfaces.[3]
There is also evidence that synthetic surfaces are significantly safer than dirt in terms of equine breakdowns, though there are many variables that come into play.[4] The statistics for North America in 2015 showed 1.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts on synthetic surfaces, 1.22 on grass courses, and 1.78 on dirt tracks. The breakdown rates were down for each of the surfaces compared to 2014.[5]
The first synthetic surface used for thoroughbred racing was Tropical Park's Tartan turf, a synthetic surface similar to Astroturf installed in 1966. Tartan turf was never a success with horsemen.[6]
The first synthetic surface to replace dirt in the United States was installed at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, Pennsylvania in 1963. This surface, called Tartan, was found to be unsatisfactory and removed and replaced with a traditional limestone surface in 1975.
Name
Manufacturer
Country
Description
Installations
Cushion Track
Equestrian Surfaces
Sand, synthetic fibers, elastic fiber coated with wax. The footing is approximately seven inches deep, followed by a geotextile membrane/tarmac.[7]
Hollywood Park (closed down) Courbold Park, Sunshine Coast Toowoomba, Queensland[A] Klampenborg, Denmark Taby Galopp, Sweden (closed) Al Khor Horse Breeders Park, Qatar
A mixture of silica sand, recycled synthetic fibers (carpet & spandex) and recycled rubber/pvc. In cold climates, the mixture may also include jelly cable (plastic insulation from copper phone wire). The entire mixture is coated with wax.
6 inches of footing (sand, nylon fibres, Spandex fibres coated in a polymeric binder) on top of a 4-inch IMC layer (sand & nylon fibres) on top of a drainage system.[12]
A mixture of silica sand, recycled synthetic fibers (carpet & spandex) and chopped geotextile. The surface keeps the exploitation characteristics in a wide temperature range (from -40 up to +100 оС). The entire mixture is coated with wax.[15]
Akbuzat Race Track (First in 2007, Renewed in 2021) International Equestrian Complex, Kazan (First in 2005, Renewed in 2020) International Equestrian Complex, Pradar Equestrian Complex, Jump Equestrian Complex, Nimb Equestrian Complex, Sady Pridoniya
↑Toowoomba has converted 1/2 the synthetic track into turf and have the all-weather track as a training track
References
^ ab Lesovoy, Amber (16 March 2009). "Why is dirt the best track surface for horse racing?". SportingLife:360. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
^ Allin, Jane (November 2011). "Horse Racing Ground Matters: Part 3". Horsefund. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
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The track surface of a horse racing track refers to the material of which the track is made There are three types of track surfaces used in modern horse racing 1 These are Turf the most common track surface in Europe Dirt the most common track surface in the US Artificial or Synthetic the collective term for a number of proprietary man made surfaces in use at a number of locations around the world The style of racing differs between surfaces with dirt races tending to have the fastest pace 2 while turf racing often comes down to a sprint in the stretch Races on artificial surfaces tend to play out somewhere in between Anecdotally American bettors consider dirt racing to be more predictable which makes it a more popular medium for betting purposes 1 Weather conditions affect the speed of the different surfaces too and grading systems have been developed to indicate the track condition known as the going in the UK and Ireland Turf surfaces are the most affected by changes in the weather and many turf horses will have a strong preference for a specific type of going Synthetic surfaces EditSynthetic surfaces allow racing to take place in bad weather conditions when it may otherwise be cancelled and for this reason are sometimes referred to as All Weather surfaces Manufacturers of synthetic racetrack surface materials promote the fact that synthetic tracks have drainage attributes that are better than natural surfaces 3 There is also evidence that synthetic surfaces are significantly safer than dirt in terms of equine breakdowns though there are many variables that come into play 4 The statistics for North America in 2015 showed 1 18 fatalities per 1 000 starts on synthetic surfaces 1 22 on grass courses and 1 78 on dirt tracks The breakdown rates were down for each of the surfaces compared to 2014 5 The first synthetic surface used for thoroughbred racing was Tropical Park s Tartan turf a synthetic surface similar to Astroturf installed in 1966 Tartan turf was never a success with horsemen 6 The first synthetic surface to replace dirt in the United States was installed at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington Pennsylvania in 1963 This surface called Tartan was found to be unsatisfactory and removed and replaced with a traditional limestone surface in 1975 Name Manufacturer Country Description InstallationsCushion Track Equestrian Surfaces Sand synthetic fibers elastic fiber coated with wax The footing is approximately seven inches deep followed by a geotextile membrane tarmac 7 Santa Anita Park replaced Hollywood Park closed down Courbold Park Sunshine CoastToowoomba Queensland A Klampenborg DenmarkTaby Galopp Sweden closed Al Khor Horse Breeders Park QatarFibresand Mansfield Sand Company Sand particles and polypropylene fibres 8 Southwell 9 until 2021 10 Polytrack Martin Collins Enterprises A mixture of silica sand recycled synthetic fibers carpet amp spandex and recycled rubber pvc In cold climates the mixture may also include jelly cable plastic insulation from copper phone wire The entire mixture is coated with wax Lingfield ParkKempton Park Chelmsford CityDundalkChantillyMarseille VivauxPau CLOPF Kranji Mijas CLOPF VeliefendiArlington ParkDel Mar Racetrack replaced Keeneland Race Course replaced Pakenham Racecourse VICCagnes Sur Mer RacecourseDeauville La Touques RacecourseGokdere amp Bedew Racecourses in Ashgabat TurkmenistanFairview RacecourseGreyville Durban South Africa Cambridge and Riccarton Park Racecourse New Zealand 11 Pro Ride Pro Ride Racing Australia Pty Ltd 6 inches of footing sand nylon fibres Spandex fibres coated in a polymeric binder on top of a 4 inch IMC layer sand amp nylon fibres on top of a drainage system 12 FlemingtonSanta Anita removed Rosehill Racecourse NSWWarwick Farm Racecourse NSW 13 Tapeta Michael Dickinson Inc Sand fibre rubber and wax makes up the top 4 7 inches of the racing surface installed on top of either porous asphalt or a geotextile membrane 14 SpreytonGolden Gate FieldsAlbany CaliforniaBerkeley CAPresque Isle DownsWolverhamptonNewcastleWoodbineDubai Racecourse MeydanTurfway Park Gulfstream ParkSouthwell from 2021 10 Visco Ride Sand and fibre coated in wax Flemington Victoria removed Cranbourne Racecourse Victoria removed Warwick Farm Racecourse New South Wales removed Lyon La Soie France Pornichet France EquiPolitrek Visteks Ltd A mixture of silica sand recycled synthetic fibers carpet amp spandex and chopped geotextile The surface keeps the exploitation characteristics in a wide temperature range from 40 up to 100 oS The entire mixture is coated with wax 15 Akbuzat Race Track First in 2007 Renewed in 2021 International Equestrian Complex Kazan First in 2005 Renewed in 2020 International Equestrian Complex Pradar Equestrian Complex Jump Equestrian Complex Nimb Equestrian Complex Sady Pridoniya Toowoomba has converted 1 2 the synthetic track into turf and have the all weather track as a training trackReferences Edit a b Lesovoy Amber 16 March 2009 Why is dirt the best track surface for horse racing SportingLife 360 Retrieved 5 May 2014 Allin Jane November 2011 Horse Racing Ground Matters Part 3 Horsefund Retrieved 5 May 2014 The Changing Landscape Handicapping All Weather Surfaces www brisnet com Retrieved 24 July 2016 West Christy 23 March 2009 Synthetic surfaces vs dirt and turf The Bloodhorse Retrieved 5 May 2014 Equine Fatality Rate Down 14 in 2015 bloodhorse com Retrieved 24 July 2016 Short history of Tropical Park by Hale Ron 1997 retrieved May 2 2008 from about com Cushion Track Premier Menages Surface Archived from the original on 2015 09 05 Retrieved 2015 06 20 Fibresand Equestrian 10 November 2010 natural turf pitch fibre reinforced rootzone Mansfield sand co uk 2010 06 22 Retrieved 2012 12 02 a b Scargill Peter 29 April 2021 Southwell given planning permission to change its surface to Tapeta Racing Post Retrieved 31 August 2021 Big tick for plastic fantastic Unique 2 Phase cushioning amp wax free polymeric binder Pro Ride Track Profiles www prorideracing com Archived from the original on 15 July 2011 Retrieved 17 January 2022 The System Tapeta Footings www tapetafootings com Archived from the original on 8 April 2010 Retrieved 17 January 2022 All Weather Horse Racing surfaces Politrek amp RashitTrack Also for dressage and jumping Home Archived from the original on 2015 06 20 Retrieved 2015 06 20 and All Weather Horse Racing surfaces Politrek amp RashitTrack Also for dressage and jumping Home Archived from the original on 2015 06 20 Retrieved 2015 06 20 External links Edithttp www equestriansurfaces co uk https www premierplaysolutions co uk surfacing and daily mile circuits rubber mulch surfacing http www martincollins com http www prorideracing com http www tapetafootings com http www viscoride com au https www visteks net and https web archive org web 20150620225049 http rashittrack com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Track surface amp oldid 1142629895 Synthetic surfaces, 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