All weather racetracks

Assuming that the threats that we may be getting all weather tracks in SA is true,I hope that the existing sand tracks(which seem to take less rain than turf anyway)are replaced with allweather as both the Vaal and Flamingo Park do not really make for fair racing IMO
The form is often irrelevant,and one of the reasons is ,that regardless of the distance of the race,too many races are pretty much decided within the first 300 metres of the start,in that,luck in positioning plays a huge role in the results,as only a handful of our horses seem to perform well from off the pace on the sand.
I personally also hope that Tapetta is the chosen surface as the Dubai WC meeting indicated that turf ratings are reproduced far better on Tapetta than on polytrack or fibresand(almost every trifecta/quartet was made up the best handicapped horses (even based on Turf ratings) and that included the World Cup itself.(The top 6 handicapped horses made up the trifecta and quartet for a return of over R40,000).
It would seem that turf horses can adapt best to Tapetta,which will be an advantage when turf meetings need to be switched to allweather at the last minute.
I would also assume that Dubai did their homework before choosing Tapetta.
Would be interested in other views on this issue as these decisions could play a big role in our racings future, I would think.

is that what that black stuff was?

Dubai had problems with their tapeta this year,having to flood it with water constantly,making the surface heavy

I heard the Tapeta surface there has really gone backwards since it was laid down there. Far to much kickback now. Guys were not happy with it. Gold Circle must have chosen it and had it put in!

These tracks are only as good as the sh!t that is put on them...and the sub surface engineering.....the dark surface clearly indicates the presence of recycled rubbers and at high loading not too good for any synthetic system....besides the scrap plastic and rubber substrates on the surface the foundation or bed needs special selection.....tapeta is the term for the geotextile under surface "carpet" on which the surface substrates are placed.....this system is highly porous
and is a problem as it cannot retain enough moisture and thus has to be hydrated.

I have recently joined a company that has the technology and products to turn synthetic racing surfaces on it's head.....

That sounds good Muhti.........as I say,lets hope it a is a surface that is a compatible transition from turf.

The aim in synthetic surfaces are not to replace turf but to have an option during adverse weather conditions....,.many of these synthetic systems are the result of trial and error and surely we can learn from past mistakes by many others to develop a system on the merits of each of the options as each has an application depending on the conditions......Tapeta is clearly not the system for the UAE but Gr8 for Singapore....the climatic conditions are poles apart....the problem is that even though these systems are highly priced.....the materials used are very cheap and thus a high failure factor.....using too much scrap rubber for starters causes wax absorption and the substrate binder and moisture equalizer is not able to function and then problem.....

Muhti,you lost me in your first line....lol....It is only cos turf does not cope well with adverse weather conditions that a replacement is necessary (tu)...so called allweather.
The point I am trying to make is that ,using handicapping as a punting basis,form comparison indicates that Tapetta converts best of the existing options.
It is an issue which will probably be ignored,as punters have become accustomed to,but would also be beneficial to late surface changes,to save meetings,so would hope it is a consideration , all other things being equal.
EG:If a meeting is switched from Turf to Sand,more than half the horses become unsuited and often scratched (or race used as a training run.)
I just hope that the decision is made with better anticipation than the introduction of the Vaal sand track appear to have enjoyed!

Well, Rob, your points are correct, but herein lies the problem -

1) Tapetta is a goner in Dubai. Besides the moisture problems, the rubbers and other are going into horses nostrils and ending up in the lungs.....bye bye Tapetta.

2) Kimberley is simply about poor and/or inconsistent maintenance. A few weeks ago, jocks felt their horses hitting the base, around the turn. The other day, the going was perfect, again. Since the passing of Peter Miller, the whole track preps process was changed in Kimberley. No points for guessing that these "changes "were in fact a cutback (shortcuts) on the time spent on prep. Remember Vernon Rugg having a go on this very subject a few months back? Yes, we should all anticipate a relapse soon, as the "micromanagement " of Kimberley from Turffontein just isnt working.

3) Vaal Sand was perfect for the first 3 or 4 months since being topped up over a year ago. Then...... maintenance got behind. The working medium was not level and at places the base was infiltrated. A wall (damwall) was allowed to build up on the inside, thus retaining water through restriction of runoff and meetings were lost. The wind was blamed as being the cause of this erosion. No mention was made of the fact that the same wind was always here at Vaal. No mention was made that this very erosion had been prevented for years on same track. The wind, apparently, blows the water away when sprinklers are on, thus leaving the dry sand to blow from the outside to the inside. Again, no mention was made of the fact that there is now an EXTRA water tanker, compared to before, when wind erosion was contained by fewer water tankers and not by sprinklers. And the biggest problem is the culture in respect of working hours and/or approach to flexibility of hours. No overtime, none of this nonsense. At weekends, there is a mass exodus from around 13h00 and that's that. So, there WILL BE erosion, simply because we cannot possibly entertain a bit of proactive planning and simply wetting the sand when it is not windy, eg 8pm or roll/compact the track when mother nature gives us rain on a friday night....

4) Randjes polytrack is in trouble. Seriously disturbing reports of horses with career ending injuries sustained on the track and of the track being extremely inconsistent are doing the rounds. So, RIGHT NOW we know that in it's present form it is NOT working perfectly. Just like when Ormonde Ferraris GUARANTEED us that the closure of Newmarket would result in too much traffic on the Turf and that the Turf would NOT handle the Racing. He was counteracted by 'research' which 'proved' him wrong. Since this 'research' we have had to DIVIDE the Vaal Turf and we have had admissions that the Turf cannot handle the Racing...... And that maintenance is under severe pressure! I hope the 'research' is a lot better BEFORE we put down our first Polytrack for Racing purposes......

One worries...... About actual Racing going backwards, whilst all of the focus is on overseas turnover in the midst of dwindling Local Turnovers. This begs the question, " for how long will Overseas turnover remain, when we neglect the basics....? " Will handicapping, programming and our management of the very basics not result in the Overseas market eventually also dwindling, losing faith?

If we dont get the basics right asap and continue to tell lies on behalf of the responsible people or we defend their actions with lots of (or any available) excuses, what pieces will be left for us to pick up ???

Yeah that all weather term is a bit redundant as clearly the weather has major affects on all these systems.....even too dry weather is now a problem and I'm hoping that with the decisions that are being made about our future all weather tracks that the PTB are not BSed into something that is going to cost a plenty and fail......:S

thats very disturbing news louis and taking the above into consideration what is your opinion regarding the sale of clairwood in relation to the problems abovementioned?

Easy to get experts to install all weather race tracks..Its the after care i`m worried about

I remember an interview with the clerk of the course at wolverhampton,they had the track worked for 72 hours continuously just to Guarantee one meeting a few months back