curious

Francis Carroll August 03 2019 12:00 AM The new track surface at Dundalk Stadium will be ready in time for the popular 12 July fixture next year. The big holiday meetings on 'The Twelfth' and 15 August were lost this summer in anticipation of work taking place on replacing the Polytrack. That didn't happen but last week it was announced that the replacement of the artificial horse racing surface will be carried out during the months of April, May and June, 2020, at a cost in excess of €2 million.

Can they not read or research anything there? Dundalk announce full replacement of Polytrack racing surface next year Wed 24 Jul 2019 Dundalk Stadium's Polytrack racing surface is to be replaced over a three-month-period next year. The work is scheduled to begin in April. As recommended by track consultants, and as an additional measure intended to add further body and elasticity to the existing surface, some 54 tonnes of extra fibre will be added to the track in time for the recommencement of this year's racing programme on September 20. Polytrack pioneers Martin Collins Enterprises will manufacture and supply the synthetic surface and carry out the track replacement and fibre replenishment work. Stressing that the overarching objective influencing every aspect of the project was to ensure that Dundalk Stadium retains its position as one of Europe’s premier All-weather horse-racing venues, its Chairman, Leo McCauley commented: "Our goal throughout has been to provide an artificial surface that, on completion, will be amongst the finest in the world."Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Horse Racing Ireland, added: “Dundalk plays a vital role in Irish Racing, staging a variety of races and staging a varied programme of Flat racing, including through the winter"Horse Racing Ireland welcomes this announcement as we have been encouraging Dundalk to undertake this work.”

It will take one full time person just to pick up the shit every day before the track can be groomed. Where the hell is the due diligence on these costings?

Well that's what he reportedly said: Every three to five years synthetic tracks require major maintenance with the replenishment of polymer and fibres. This costs about $250,000. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12096773 What has changed? That is excluding the need for full surface replacement every 8-10 years, day to day maintenance and irrigation so it doesn't blow away in the norwester etc.

I heard that Tim reckoned the maintenance cost would be $50k a year. However Saundry is on record as saying there is a 250k cost every 3-5 years just to replenish the binding material. Did anyone make any sense of that?

OK. Good luck. I heard from one trainer down there that if they wanted to listen to bs they'd rather go to the pub.

I love US racing dirt and turf. Can't stand the synthetics though. Fortunately they have ripped most of them out.

What is natural about a synthetic track?

I've sent apologies. Feel free to report back Michael though in case you are the only one there. When you do, it would be good if you could also post the maintenance cost and revenue analysis as well as the final initial costings. Thanks.

Think he said he wouldn't dispute it.

He drove Parson's truck to the races. The threshold for riding is 100. The youth limit is 150 for driving.

Looks like you should be able to work them round the rugby fields? Otherwise, we probably have room for a few more at Foxton.

Probably both.

Good arrangement if you can sort it I'd say.

They are a complete waste of time. Have been for years. They won't answer any questions with any hard data. You may get a free beer and a sausage roll but otherwise you'd be better off staying home and having a snooze on the couch.

He's the CEO. He would only need to have rocked up for trackwork anywhere in the country for one morning to know the answer to that question. It's insane.

That's a fair question. Whar do we do with jumpers that are going for a spell now? Free to a good home?

Yip

No Suzy Gordon bought them. Dave still trains there in partnership with daughter Emma but operates from his own property near Levin now.

I'm guessing they'll need an extra 2-3 grand a year per horse in track fees to maintain it, let alone pay for it.

No. It apparently doesn't make sense to race there anymore. Just send 180 horses round at the trials this week and probably similar in a couple of weeks time. I wonder where all those horses will actually race.

There's no suggestion I'm aware of about selling Foxton.

No Foxton is similar. Crown land. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/provincial/1869/0003/latest/whole.html

There may have been a window for that at some stage but the CJC are in the racing business, not the land spec/development business, so why would they?