Vaal Sand Quality

After watching the discussion last night as regards the quality of the Vaal sand and how it needs to be upgraded to increase binding of the sand it again becomes so apparent what a digrace the decision was to close BOTH Gosforth Park and Newmarket.

Geoff Woodruff's comment on the sand surface (as a pro-sand debater) was that when it was built it was merely as an alternative surface to race on in Highveld as they already had 4 turf racecourses in the area and this sand course was really designed to be used in the harsh Highveld winters. Due to the closure of 2 of the courses they added an inside track at Turfontein (which one of the debater trainers called a goat track) and now use the sand at the Vaal throughout the year.

Although the Vaal sand has nothing whatsoever to do with the closure of the other tracks ..it just once again made it so clear to me how sad it is that the decision was alowed to be taken!..and angry!

Even the pro-sand guys (except for St John) agreed in the end that the course needs upgrading; some just thought it more 'urgent' than others - let's hope this happens some time in the next 10 years!

In addition to the monumental c*ck up (from a racing point of view) of selling especially Newmarket, it was also highlighted in the show last night by Louis Goosen that not a whole lot of planning was done when 'building' the sand track; most are in agreement that the sand straight is too long, but that was not considered a potential problem when creating the track - and now it's 'water under the bridge'

Spectator inconvenience aside, the so called problems with possibly moving the finishing line were never described.

Yes a good point..but Magic they will never tell us what they are.

We have to race on what we are given may be true enough, but somewhere a line must be drawn. Otherwise a ploughed mielie field in the arse end of nowhere may be all we'll be left with one day. Just kidding (I hope.)

Heehee Magic many years ago I was driving through Mossel Bay and they had bush racing on a Sunday..it was in the Xmas holidays..maybe we end up there..must say it took them quicker to work out the winning dividend on those hand written tote tickets than it does today...and the best thing for the owner your horse ran in 2 races on the day.

talking about racetrack?? this harness racing thats being introduced in SA.. where they gonna be having those??

As far away as possible...?

Its replacing the bush racing in Mossel Bay!!!

I'd rather have the bush racing. Racehorses should be ridden at full speed, not followed at half speed in a cut down grocery trolley!

Lekesi is where the track is planned plus a greyhound track?

And where on earth would that be, Scotia?