Kenilworth Summer course

Please note that we will not be moving to the Summer Course at Kenilworth this weekend, largely due to the excessive rain received at Kenilworth since 16:00 on Saturday. We have received 100mm up to 07:00 today. We will return to the Summer Course for the race meeting on 21st November – the Ocean Basket Green Point Stakes.Gold Circle

The state of the Kenilworth old course is shocking. I have in 20 odd years, never seen it lookin so poor.

Spoke to a few people on Saturday and they all agreed.

I was under the impression that Kenilworth was considered a world class racing surface a few years back, terrible what's going on.

WHY ?

to be fair, Kenilworth used to share the burden with Milnerton, and the balance to Durbanville.

After 15 years of accumulated non-stop racing, how ever could it maintain anything close to 'world class'?

Can't be easy job.

The recovery of the tracks have been slow this year due to low soil and air temperatures in october.The track was constantly waterlogged in winter because it has a deep sod laid with a high clay content...the reason for this is that it has to retain moisture in the root zone during summer....but literally drowns in winter!Suppose a catch 22 situation....
Some of the herbicides have left areas denuded of grass cover and these have been replanted.
All in all the course manager has done exceptionally well to maintain a course under very trying circumstances leading up to the Cape summer season.

O.k so we gonna, like the fake band milli vannilli, " blame it on the rain."

While I believe you both raise valid points, I don't buy it.


J.D, it must have been about 15years since there was racing at Milnerton, so good point but not really valid i.m.o

Hotline, are you saying this is the worst October weather in recent times and that is why the summer course isn't ready or that soil composition is causing it ( has the soil composition changed in recent times....if so why?)

What about the state of the winter course?

To me my desciption is pretty clear as to why the course has battled through winter....the low soil temperatures have been worse than in years gone by as we have had a longer winter in 2009.So its not only Oct we are talking abt but the whole winter....look at the rain we have had in CT in nov...the most in over 50 years....
If you need more technical info then give Mr Diedericks a call at Kenilworth to get the answers you require.

hotline slightly off the point but whats the latest update regarding the new training centre down the west coast

Will get an update later this week and revert....

Yes please Hotline, thought it was not part of the plans any more?

Talking to someone in CT earlier...it sounded like the chances of racing tomorrow were nil?
Anyone near Kenilworth got a view!

Pouring now....strong NW....the course got a good soaking on the weekend so we'll have to wait till the morning to see how much rain falls during the night...