The Importance of Turf Maintenance for Racecourses
A racecourse is a dangerous place for horses and jockeys. There are many things that could go wrong while riding a horse at high speed, even without an uneven turf making it more difficult. Racecourse maintenance services are essential when looking after these types of grounds.
The Dangers of a Racecourse
During a race, there are a lot of things that could go wrong. Even the best jockeys can have trouble staying on their horse during a race. Being kicked off a horse and trampled on is a real danger of the job and can even be a risk for a horse as well. Horses can make mistakes or go off course, causing crashes and pile-ups which is extremely dangerous. However, what some people may not realise is that the course itself also brings with it risks for racers, especially if it is not cared for properly. Uneven turf causes a bumpy course that could cause a horse to lose their footing and fall over or even injure their foot/leg. If the course is not the correct size, the horses are more likely to crash into each other, again causing injury to themselves and their jockeys. As well as this, if the grounds are affected by disease or infestations, this could cause illness to spread among both horses and humans.
Racecourse Maintenance Services
Usually, when looking after commercial grounds, ground maintenance companies follow the same techniques and routines to keep the grounds in a good condition. However, racecourse maintenance is much more specific because of what it is used for. British horseracing authority standards dictate specific ways in which the grounds must be taken care of and what they must look like at all times. This is because this authority has a deep understanding of the potential dangers of this sport and knows how to prevent serious injury. This is also because they need to make sure that all courses are exactly the same and that no unfair advantage is given to a race team due to the grounds they are racing on. Due to this, instructions on how to properly care for the grounds change depending on the type of track. This includes flat facing tracks, hurdle racing tracks and steeplechase racing tracks. Something that does not change across the different courses is the grass over the turf. It is important that there is a good layer of healthy grass that the horses can race on. The main reason for that is that it creates a cushioned layer on the ground which is easier on the horses hooves and reduces the risk of injury. As well as this, if the dirt is left uncovered, it can get kicked about during a race and get into the horse’s eyes. This could damage their eyes and leave them unable to see. Finally, it creates a faster surface for the horses to race on which helps them to run faster.
Grounds Maintenance Providers
With so many specific rules and expectations that need to be met when looking after these courses, it is important that you choose the right maintenance provider for your racecourse. To do this, you must look for companies that specialise in this type of grounds care with years of experience to show their skill and precision in maintenance. You can find this out from their websites where they have different types of grounds they look after as well as the strict British horseracing authority standards they follow. If you think you have found a suitable company but are not 100% you can trust them with the job, you can check past customer testimonials as this will give you a better look at what they actually like to work with and the standard they work to. This can help you find skilled teams as well as help you to avoid sloppy work that could mess up your grounds.
Conclusion
If you are in charge of looking after a racecourse, racecourse maintenance services are the best choice for your needs. To learn more about these services and what they include, visit the ALS Contracts website.