Racetracks
Most racetracks across Australia are Kikuyu based. Traditionally, tracks comprise a common variety of kikuyu that is over-sown with ryegrass in autumn to give additional colour and wear over the winter time. The degree of over-seeding with cool-season grasses depends on the location. Little is done in Queensland whereas in Victoria it is common practice.
Case Study
Regional racetrack hits its straps with timely returfing – Bunbury, Western Australia
Bunbury, Western Australia is home to one of Australia’s much-loved regional racetracks and like many sports surfaces was well overdue for a substantial renovation.
“The track was scarified and top-dressed during May 2009 with the hope that this would be sufficient to revitalise the surface,” Ken Johnston, Sports Turf Technology said. “But by the time September came around, the committee realised there wouldn’t be enough grass in place for the first meeting, due to slow winter recovery.”
Greenacres Turf Farm came to the rescue with 8000m2 of turf blocks (40mm thick) of Village Green turf.
“Greenacres supplied the extra thick sods to achieve the stability necessary for such a surface in a short timeframe,” Ken said.
Turf laying was completed on September 18, 2009 with 47 days to grow in before the first race meeting on Melbourne Cup Day. The track passed the steward’s inspection and the meeting ran smoothly to the delight of Bunbury Turf Club Racing Manager Paul Rossiter. Paul said he could not believe how quickly the roots of the Village Green turf sods went down into the soil.
Bunbury Racetrack
Case Study
Gawler racetrack following frosts and heavy training
Village Green gets inside running – Gawler racetrack, Adelaide, SA
An unforseen opportunity at South Australia’s Gawler racetrack has been a bonus for Village Green and has allowed it showcase it’s strength.
“Our local SA supplier only had enough turf to cover the course proper and we had to get in turf from Victoria, which happened to be Village Green,” Mirko explained.
“I admit I was skeptical to start with, as it was a different variety to our existing turf, with a thinner, more knitted pile.”
“But as it turns out Village Green has really performed well since it was laid during January.”
Going the distance
Village Green now makes up about 85 per cent of the inside track, which sees up to 50 horses pounding the turf each week as they work through paces. Mirko is particularly impressed with how the hardy turf variety is performing under pressure, even at this early stage.
“I’d suggest the inside track is even holding up better than the course proper, which doesn’t get as much use,” Mirko said.
“I think the lower growth habit and knitted nature of turf allows it to be much hardier underfoot.”
“The colour has remained strong throughout winter and I’m really quite happy with how it is performing.”
Low maintenance option
In addition to its ability to withstand hundreds of fast-galloping hooves each week, Mirko is also impressed at the low mowing requirements of Village Green to date.
“We had to mow our course proper only two weeks after it was laid, but Village Green really hasn’t been high enough yet to require mowing,” he explained.
“The inside track does contain patches of our traditional turf variety and so the mower has been over the track to manage this vertical growth, but Village Green seems to have spent its energy bedding down and not shooting upwards.”
“In terms of savings in time, fuel and mower operation and maintenance, this is a real potential benefit of the variety.”
“I imagine as the weather starts to warm up the vertical growth will kick in, but it has been good ever since its been laid, and I’m really happy.“
Contact:
Mirko Dargusch, Track manager, Gawler racetrack, SA
T: 0417 840 808