“We have lost more meetings at Greyville since the polytrack was installed and the statistics suggest that it must rank near the top of the list of the world’s least effective all-weather tracks.”
Greyville – as it was
Some KZN jockeys and trainers were up in arms after the abandonment of last Friday evening’s Greyville racemeeting, labelling the situation a bad one for horseracing and yet another dent in owner and public confidence.
The official Stipes Report confirmed that shortly before the commencement of the race meeting, an electrical storm struck Greyville. Frequent lightning and a heavy downpour resulted in a delay to proceedings. With the lightning persisting and rain continuing to fall, and after a track inspection of the bend, the Panel formulated in terms of the Rules, abandoned the race meeting.
There is a sentiment from those canvassed that the lightning was a convenient ‘escape’ for the racing authorities, who had actually issued a press release 24 hours prior to the meeting.
But the downpours proved to be the silver bullet – and the frustration really appears to flow from the track’s apparently Jekkyl and Hyde ‘all weather’ label.
“Horses cost money to feed and train. We arrive here and racing is abandoned after a forty minute downpour. We understand that lightning is a threat. But then we get told that it’s actually a maintenance issue and that they should have done major maintenance after three years. And now we are four years down the line and they are standing with their hands in their pockets. That’s just not good enough,” said a trainer.
“We are battling with small fields and losing money – and now they compound issues with a casual approach. There are puddles on the track. Those should be absorbed down through the layers and drain off. But they put the machinery on the track and the puddles then become indentations and the surface is uneven. If the Vets say the track is not good for horses, then it is a track with problems,” added the trainer, who said the original recommendation that Greyville did not suit a polytyrack was coming back to haunt KZN racing.
Peter Morrison – assisting to get the Greyville poly in shape
Peter Morrison of Martin Collins SA told the Sporting Post that he was not aware of why Friday’s meeting had been abandoned but confirmed that the track was due for a ‘regrade and level’.
“We undertake quarterly inspections of the track and we were there in January. We also met with a few jockeys who had recently raised concerns regarding the ‘kick-back’ and suggestions that the Polytrack was too ‘soft’. Numerous samples from the track have been taken for analysis overseas and as it is now in the 3-5 year period the track could be due for a ‘top-up’,” he added, also refuting any suggestions that the track managers had not adhered to maintenance schedules.
The Greyville meeting scheduled for 14 February has been moved to Scottsville.
