100 | Synthetic surface proving its worth The Cambridge Jockey Club is the biggest training centre in Australasia with up to 1300 horses training at the facilities every month. RACING INDUSTRY Cambridge Jockey Club Kelly Deeks A new synthetic racing surface at Cambridge Jockey Club has transformed Australasia’s largest thoroughbred horse training facility into the Waikato region’s primary winter racing facility, with two unprogrammed race meetings already held at short notice after the February weather events. ȊThat’s the benefit of this new track,ȋ says Cambridge Jockey Club C(O Andy Cruickshank. “At short notice, meetings can be held or transferred here rather than lost. We can save owners the financial impact of having a horse in training and no race meeting or stake to race for.” The new track surface is one of three synthetic tracks new to New Zealand since former Minister for Racing Winston Peters commissioned a ‘blunt appraisal’ of New Zealand’s racing industry from Australian expert John Messara in 2018. Ζn his report, Messara made recommendations on how to make improvements to the industry, and one of these was for the inclusion of some synthetic all-weather tracks. From that report, $30 million from the Provincial Growth Fund was provided to the racing industry for the purpose of building three synthetic tracks at Cambridge, Palmerston North, and Christchurch. Cambridge Jockey Club’s new track was the first to open in 0 0, with the first trial meeting in November 0 0 and the first race meeting in May 2021. The track comes from Martin Collins Enterprises in the UK, and is called Fibretrack Plus. It comprises a waxed and blended silica sand and a clopf fibre, which is produced by shredding the o cuts of brand new carpets and removing any impurities for an environmentally sound resultant product. Horses are able to make a print on the surface, as they would on a good turf track, rather than going deep into the surface, giving them a lighter ride with natural action and balance. As well as its all-weather capability, Cambridge Jockey Club’s new track can be prepared as new after being run or galloped on in only two and a half hours. “We can save owners the financial impact of having a horse in training and no race meeting or stake to race for.” “Two hundred horses each weighing around 0kgs can make a mess of a turf track in winter,” Andy says. “This will usually take considerable time to get back to an acceptable trial or racing standard.” Andy says the Waikato is the hub of thoroughbred racing in New Zealand, with close to 2000 horses training between Cambridge and Matamata. The Cambridge Jockey Club is the biggest training centre in Australasia with up to 1300 horses training at the facilities every month, 11 tracks for horses to train on, and 13 fortnightly winter race meetings scheduled between May and October. This August will see the return of the Richard Bright Memorial Race Day which was first held last year, in memorial of the man who was publican of the Group One Turf Bar and heavily involved in New Zealand’s thoroughbred racing industry as a racer and breeder, until his life was cut tragically short in a boating accident last year. There are sponsorship opportunities available as Cambridge Jockey Club transforms from training centre to racing centre, with plenty of space for new billboards, and all race meetings broadcast on Trackside. The commentator will also provide information about each race’s sponsor. Anderson Accounting Ltd – Accounting & Audit services without the 'big firm' overhead! Covering your Not for Profit and Charity audits and small to medium business accounting needs. Call Stephen for a chat about your requirements and let’s see how we can help... Suite 6, 47 Alpha Street, Cambridge 021 447 668 MOST EXPERIENCED TRACTOR AND FARM MACH INERY TEAM WA I KATOS www.waikatotractors.co.nz Waikato Tractors Ltd 07 843 7237 217 Kahikatea Drive, Frankton, Hamilton SALES PARTS SERVICING
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