£1.5 million investment in the turf at Aintree Racecourse

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 - 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 video below contains the following information:

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.

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 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.

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.

About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club

Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England.

More information is available at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk

Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare.

For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

For further information please contact:

Grant Rowley, Regional Communications Manager, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07884 655990 or email: Grant.Rowley@thejockeyclub.co.uk

Jessica Dalgliesh, Senior Communications Executive, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07464 491507 or email: Jessica.Dalgliesh@thejockeyclub.co.uk