 Lingfield Park 1989 Equitrack  Southwell 1989 Fibresand

 To maintain betting revenues in the winter months  To continue racing in adverse weather

 Introduced in December 2003  First floodlit track in Great Britain  Saturday night racing attracted healthy local following

Polytrack 175mm 65mm thickness of 20mm Open graded base course macadam (special mix for MCE) 300mm of hard limestone or granite 40mm to dust 150mm perforated plastic pipe in hard lime stone or granite 40mm track width 300mm Ground level 300mm Soil Shoulder 600mm Not shown 100m spaced lateral drains to infield v- ditch Not to scale Compacted 150mm of 40mm clean hard limestone or granite (no dust) Ground level Lingfield Park – Cross Section

 Martin Dwyer “It’s a perfect riding surface, with lots of bounce, it’s like a carpet!”

 Substantial Kick Back

 Improved surface  Improved prize money  Group 3 Winter Derby £100,000  Better Horses

Median Ratings

Wolverhampton 2004 Polytrack Kempton Park 2006 Polytrack Dundalk 2007 Polytrack Great Leighs 2008 Polytrack

Flat Fixtures

 More races?  Requirements of the horse population  Requirements of the Levy

 Turf – Traditional Surface  Turf/Artificial – Low Injury Rates  Artificial – Consistent Going  Artificial – Frequency of Racing

 Artificial Surface or Arc de Triomphe for Duke of Marmalade ?  Group 1 Races on Artificial Surfaces  Increased International Competition