TURF AND GROUND
The famous turf at Aintree plays a huge part in assisting and improving the welfare of the horses that race on it.
A total of £1.5 million has been invested at Aintree to ensure the safest ground is available to be raced on at all times, regardless of the weather and climate conditions.
The species of grass
To achieve the safest ground for horses to run on requires careful management of the actual species of grass grown. Different species have different roots and coverage. The video shows what species are grown at Aintree and why they provide the safest ground for horse welfare.
The Turf and how it is prepared
An essential part of safe ground is the quality and length of the grass itself. The grass at Aintree is cut to precisely four inches for the whole circuit. This is to ensure it provides plenty of cushion
Precise and managed watering
At Aintree the latest technology is utilised to apply the correct amounts of water to the turf and soil to provide the safest ground. By regulating the water that goes onto the track, the density of the soil can be controlled to ensure it is always at its safest for racing - i.e. on the softer side of Good. The irrigation system enables Aintree Racecourse to create the safest take-off and landing areas for each fence on the track. Aintree is able to provide more spring for horses to take off better and more softness for them to land on.
The soil and the ground
The make-up of the soil is essential for the grass to grow and for the horses to run on. Aintree has invested heavily in the latest machinery to manage the soil and ground all year round, 365 days a year. De-compacting the soil makes the ground more forgiving for horses to run on. Find out in the video how this is achieved and what is involved to do it all-year round.