and the worst track in the world is....

I know Kack shit and he just left town.. .. But i'd of like to know how Vaal Sand is any Different from Kimberley Sand. ? is the kimberley track just as shit as the vaal if not why not make the vaal like the kimberley track..

Doublejimmy Wrote:

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> I know Kack shit and he just left town.. .. But
> i'd of like to know how Vaal Sand is any Different
> from Kimberley Sand. ? is the kimberley track just
> as shit as the vaal if not why not make the vaal
> like the kimberley track..


Louis will tell you why I'm sure(I know the Sand is different) but even at Kimberley when the track was not maintained properly they had problems - All I know is that Jocks say the Kimberley course is really forgiving to horses

Doublejimmy Wrote:

---

> I know Kack shit and he just left town.. .. But
> i'd of like to know how Vaal Sand is any Different
> from Kimberley Sand. ? is the kimberley track just
> as shit as the vaal if not why not make the vaal
> like the kimberley track..

Champion apprentice Jockey A.Aucharez is quoted as saying Kimberley one of the best tracks in the areas he usually rides.

mikesack Wrote:

---

> Doublejimmy Wrote:
>

---

>

---

> > I know Kack shit and he just left town.. .. But
> > i'd of like to know how Vaal Sand is any
> Different
> > from Kimberley Sand. ? is the kimberley track
> just
> > as shit as the vaal if not why not make the
> vaal
> > like the kimberley track..
>
> Champion apprentice Jockey A.Aucharez is quoted as
> saying Kimberley one of the best tracks in the
> areas he usually rides.

There is one similarity..................both tracks can't take much rain without becoming unraceable!

Kimberley is a very good sand surface. Horses bounce back very quickly after a run there.

Yes, more than enough of the Kimberley sand to bring to Vaal. But....transport costs......!

LG compaction of sand can only take place if the moisture (as you said the binding catalyst) content is correct. Why dont they water the track in between races before compacting it. The frequency of the compactors will also effect the moisture in the sand coming to the surface and making it more homogeneous. All these calculations can be done to find the best result. Moisture,frequency (compaction) for the sand type. Once you have the optimum moisture content for compaction of the sand type you will then know how many passes need to be done by your compactors to obtain the correct
compaction desired. LG a lab has to test the sand and they can then provide you with the necessary (optimum moisture content) info which you then take to the agents of your compactors. They will then tell you how many passes should be necessary to achieve this. The groundsman has then to make sure the amount of water is correct by taking moisture readings through out the meeting. Add water or make it less.Get a lab to attend the meetings and they can help with doing the readings. Do this for a period of time and it will become second nature for the different seasons.
I might be barking up a tree but it is really simple to achieve this.
Welcome to contact me and I will get the numbers of the right people for you.

I must say after seeing the JULY GALLOPS
GREYVILLE MUST CERTAINLY RANK UP THERE AS ONE OF THE WORST

Viva Durbanville Viva..... can we move the July handicap to the country course?

Thanks Neigh.
The 3 components are the sand, the fines and the water. The fines bind the sand because of water. The surface has about 5% fines (I had it analysed). We need about 8% fines. Very tricky to just add and obtain consistent mixture. Without consistent mixture, horses will be going in deeper then shallower. This inconsistency would cause many injuries. The management are looking at those options right now.
A topping up is on the cards, percentages must be correct. For rough example, the working medium or surface is 150mm and has 5% fines. In order to achieve 8% fines throughout, you would top up with 50mm sand, which has about 17% fines. Properly mixed together, you will have about 8% average fines, but mixing thoroughly is a difficult task.... ( I am not an expert, the figures are rough, as I said.)

This % you have mentioned is the sand make-up (sand type) The sand is made up with different size grains of which "fines" is one component hence this %. Over time these fines are washed out or blown away and have to be replaced to achieve the correct make-up of the sand. When the make-up is correct (% fines etc) you will still have to do what I mentioned above to achieve a correct homogeneous surface.( I didnt know the make-up of the sand was incorrect when writing the above.) The lab can then give the correct optimum moisture content for the sand type (make-up) to achieve the desired/correct compaction.
Testing this moisture and the compaction density on a regular basis is the only way a homogeneous surface will be achieved and maintained. It takes the guess work out of the equation. There are machines for the tests (costly) but you will have an immediate answer. ie more water or more compaction (passes by compactors)

OK another Noob question.. its somethign that i been thinking about.. Why race on Sand and on Turf. Are there benefits. I've walked into some totes before and its been quiet for the Sand meets.. than compared to the turf meets.

I kinda under stand why they use Poly because of the all weather feature..