New track for Fairview.

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Phumelela aims to install synthetic track at Fairview
DATE: Tuesday 12 April 2011
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited

Horseracing and tote betting company Phumelela plans to install a state-of-the-art synthetic racetrack at Fairview Racecourse in Port Elizabeth, which will deliver major benefits to horses and the environment.
The installation of a synthetic racetrack at Fairview will render Port Elizabeth’s other racecourse Arlington redundant because unlike turf tracks any number of race meetings can be held on a synthetic surface.
Currently two racecourses are required in order to accommodate the 70-odd race meetings held in the city annually, but a synthetic surface at Fairview will enable all races to be held at one venue. Consequently, Phumelela has asked the East Cape Gambling Board to lift its requirement for two racecourses in the city.
Racehorses and the environment will be the major beneficiaries of a synthetic racing circuit. Synthetic tracks are kinder than their turf and sand equivalents to horses, who suffer less wear and tear to their legs and consequently fewer injuries and breakdowns.
The major environmental benefit is that whereas turf and sand tracks require copious amounts of water to sustain them, synthetic tracks need virtually no water. This is of huge importance in the Eastern Cape, where droughts are common.
“You only water synthetic tracks to cool them if temperatures exceed 35 degrees and that’s something which rarely happens in Port Elizabeth,” said Phumelela Horseracing Executive Patrick Davis.
Virtually all racehorses in Port Elizabeth are now stabled at Fairview and another environmental benefit of a synthetic track there and closing Arlington is that there will be no need to transport horses from one venue to the other. This will save owners money and reduce road wear and carbon emissions.
There are also commercial benefits. One racing venue instead of two will significantly reduce operating costs and a synthetic track will ensure that virtually no meetings are abandoned because of rain, which will boost betting turnovers and betting tax revenue to provincial government.
Phumelela has commissioned specialist plant-and animal biologists to ensure a positive impact on the environment, especially the man-made wetland inside the tracks.
Martin Collins, manufacturer of the Polytrack synthetic surface, does not believe his synthetic tracks pose any threat to the environment and says that investigative work and post-installation testing have been conducted for several years on Polytrack surfaces.
“For example, following the installation of the Polytrack at Lingfield Park, an extensive programme of environmental monitoring was undertaken to assess the environmental impact, if any, of the surface on the streams flowing through the site,” said Collins.
“The testing was carried out over a 12-month period. Investigation was carried out on the water which had filtrated through the Polytrack surface, the underlying tarmac layer, into the carboniferous limestone drainage bed and lastly via the extensive drainage system before entering the stream.
“The results showed that Polytrack had no detrimental effect on the quality of water leaving the site, and hence a negligible measured environmental impact.”

Still find this strange,probably the only centre that doesn`t need an all weather track

YOU GOTTA LOVE THESE BLOKES!

Cant they install one in Gauteng who has high tempretures and a lot of rain ? Surely Gauteng must be the best centre for a polytrack.

zesto Wrote:

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> Cant they install one in Gauteng who has high
> tempretures and a lot of rain ? Surely Gauteng
> must be the best centre for a polytrack.

I am asking myself the same question Zesto .

I wonder if they ever asked that question....:S

Shareholders need dividends next year

To be fair, I think 'they' were always looking for a way to cut down on costs and closing down a course must lead to significant savings; having made that decision, a new track to accomodate the races that should have been run at Arlington is needed and why not a synthetic surface - if the reasoning in the article is sound, it will save on water and is more environmentally friendly, so seems a good decision to me over the longer term

Should have been done 10 years ago (or how long is it now since we have 'lost' Newmarket) in Gauteng as well imo - perhaps will be the case for the new track at Randjies - if it ever happens.

These clever people running Phumelela must surely have their heads read to think that putting a polytrack in PE is a good idea. They must loose 1 meeting a year there whereas in Gauteng they must loose about 10 or so?!??!?!?!

Again tonight the going will be rain affected. Perhaps not bad but who knows?????

I agree that they should do what is best for their business and closing a track in PE is probably good business, but they don't need a polytrack there.

You have to give it to these okes.....let's declare dividends as it will keep our "shareholders" happy.....................I wonder who holds the majority of shares in Phumelela??????

(Don't worry, I know the answer)

Arlington is situated next to prime residential property, the land will be sold to property developers.
The money received from selling the property will pay for the polytrack and there will be a surplus of cash.

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE
'Synthetic tracks are kinder than their turf and sand equivalents to horses, who suffer less wear and tear to their legs and consequently fewer injuries and breakdowns.'
Shouldn't all tracks in SA be synthetic, if there is less wear and tear for the horses?

The "surplus of cash" will prop up the balance sheet and dividends,and this will go on till the cupboard is bare

Rob when the cupboard is bare I'm sure it too will be sold - knobs and all- to pay shareholders - a better idea would have been to retain the second track and develop it to incorporate some form of residential housing similar to golf estate development if it possible but to close another track shows how commited Phumelela are to racing -