Huge demand for Lingfield Park racecourse’s surface

Buyers have scooped up all 10,000tonne of Lingfield Park racecourse’s old Polytrack all-weather surface.

The 11-year-old used surface, at £40 a tonne, sold out in only a few weeks. It was snapped up by 25 private buyers, mostly from the racing industry.

The original Lingfield Polytrack served 11 full winter seasons, but Arena Racing Company, which owns Lingfield, found there was a keen second-hand market.

Buyers included trainers Mark Johnston, Marco Botti, Bob Champion and Fontwell racecourse, with about 300tonne donated to The Horse Trust at Princes Risborough.

Jockey Club Estates bought 750tonne for the public gallops on Newmarket Heath.

Training grounds manager Nick Patton said it will be used at the start of the existing Polytrack gallops, which usually need replacing every 18 months due to soiling from horses waiting to canter.

In 2001, Lingfield was the

[[ strong.first racecourse to install the waxed surface ]] . It is now used at 17 other tracks around the world.

Martin Collins, who invented the surface, told H&H: “In 2001 it was unknown territory; I suggested to Lingfield that it might need replacing after six years — yet it went on to service 11 seasons of racing several times a week, and with minimal maintenance,” he added.

Racing on Lingfield’s new Polytrack started on 17 October and the surface was well received by jockeys.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (1 November 2012)

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