Installing a Synthetic Racing Track - A Technical Overview.
The all weather synthetic racing and training track phenomenon is experiencing rapid growth and a heightened awareness. The range of materials used and the installation processes can vary considerably and we have seen some interesting challenges in recent times. There is a technical process that can and should be followed for every installation.

Kentucky (Pro Ride Racing) December, 2007 – There are six major elements involved in installing a synthetic racing or training track. When all six elements are addressed fully and in relation to each other the track's installation and performance will be maximised. This list has been supplied by Ian Pearse, the founder and technical expert at Pro Ride Racing.

1. Analyse the environmental conditions:
   No track can be laid for long term success without careful consideration of the natural elements.
   1. The track installer should consider for each time of year:
   1. The historical average rainfall.
   1. This is a fundamental consideration in designing the footing’s infiltration rate.
   2. The temperature range re. the extremes of heat and cold.
   1. This determines the binder viscosity dependence on temperature. Based on climatic conditions the most appropriate binder is manufactured using a viscosity dependence graph.
   3. Natural wind conditions.
   1. What is the prevailing direction and what is likely to be introduced to the surface?
   4. The location of the track in relation to other tracks.
   1. Identify the possibility of contamination from neighbouring grass tracks, sand tracks, and other organic materials such as walk on locations from stables.
   2. Question whether there is any reason to think these conditions may change over time.
   1. For example, will a new grandstand be built that may create a new wind tunnel?

2. Review the workload expectations for the surface:
   Work closely with the facility’s management to clearly and comprehensively understand the expected workload the footing must support.
1. Will the surface be used for racing, training, or both?
1. How many individual races are planned during various time periods?
2. How many horses will be trained on a daily basis?
1. Will this be 12 months of the year or some interim period?
3. What time of day will the training / racing occur?
1. A training track with early morning training requires a different temperature focus on the viscosity range of the binder than a track with afternoon racing.

Developing a binder that suits both morning training and afternoon racing is the real key to successful synthetic track development.

3. Test material compositions:
   There are different composition options depending on the analysis from points 1 and 2 above.
   1. Pay very close attention to sand type selection.
   1. Study and understand the sand sieve analysis. Sand granule size in relation to binder quantity and type is of the utmost importance.
   2. Selecting clean, angular, washed sand with low silt and clay content is essential when providing footing stability with controlled infiltration rates.
   3. High silt and clay content drastically reduces infiltration rates and can migrate downward to block drainage systems.
   1. 1% tolerance of silt and clay is typically appropriate.
   2. Conduct a number of laboratory tests prior to the footing being established in the field to ascertain consistency in performance. Tests should include:
   1. Confirmation of binder viscosity.
   2. Strength of cohesion of binder to sand.
   3. Analytical environmental report.
   4. Vertical water infiltration tests.
   5. Water retention rates.
   6. Correct formulation; ‘laboratory to field’ >> sand = binder = fiber = rubber.
   7. Establish similarities between initial sieve analysis and current supply of sand.
   8. Surface hardness testing; Clegg Hammer testing and track rating.

4. Engineering of the track:
   After the composition is confirmed a complete specification of the engineering of the track is approved. This will address and re-confirm key issues such as:
1. The final width and length of the new footing including walk offs and trail paths.
2. The sub-base drainage system being in good working order.
1. Inspect the installed base / drainage system for high and low spots.
3. Check the base cross falls are to specification.

5. A plan for ongoing maintenance:
   Initial discussions regarding maintenance are reviewed and re-confirmed at this stage.
1. How often will the track be graded; daily or weekly?
2. What equipment will be required?
3. What additional rejuvenation materials will be required over time and at what cost?
4. How often will the rejuvenation take place?
5. Removal of organic matter is necessary on a daily basis.

FACT – all synthetic tracks require an ongoing maintenance program.

6. Contingency planning:
   Weather conditions change. From the very beginning be clear about how the track will be managed under different conditions.

It is essential you have your track installed by an experienced technically proficient synthetic track manufacturer. Ian proudly noted that following the rigorous process outlined above during the installation of the Pro Ride Racing surface at the Skylight Center in Kentucky has resulted in not one single day of training has being lost during the recent heavy rains.
Ian is passionate about this industry and the unique properties of the product and welcomes technical questions.

This comment was received at the Melbourne office of Pro-Ride Racing Australia:
"Kudos to Pro-Ride Racing and their synthetic track surface. My filly was sent to Skylight Training Center under the guidance of trainer Tom Drury for an intro to track life after breaking. It was my first experience as an owner having a horse on the surface. I was very impressed. It was a kind forgiving surface with substance and stability. A super product to introduce the young horses to training.
I knew Niall O'Callaghan had his horses there and many other top trainers. And since moving to the Skylight Training Center my trainer is now legging up other top trainer's young or rehabilitating horses like Frank Brothers, Ralph Nicks, Wayne Lucas and Bill Mott on the surface. So it's evident I'm not the only one to like what I see." - Kim Smith, Founder and President of Second Stride Inc. a not-for-profit organization for retired thoroughbred racehorses.

With the recent trend toward installing all weather synthetic surfaces at racetracks and training centers around the country, Skylight Training Center, located near Louisville, Ky., is the first North American facility to install Pro-Ride, a non-wax-based synthetic surface. Installation of the surface on the six-furlong track began this month. Horses are expected to be breezing around the new surface Aug. 25.
Skylight, owned by Bill Wahl, is home to trainers including Niall O'Callahan, Tom Drury and Donnie Grego.
Wahl said he chose to replace the traditional dirt surface with a synthetic surface on the recommendation of trainers who use his facility. "The trainers all really felt that going with an all weather synthetic surface would be the safest thing for the horses," Wahl said. "We had a first-class dirt track here, but everyone involved wanted to do the best thing for the horses."
Before choosing Pro-Ride, Wahl also considered Polytrack, Cushion Track, and Tapeta Footings, but chose to go with the Australia-based company because its surface does not use wax. "I looked at all the companies and instead of a wax, Pro-Ride uses a polyurethane compound. I think their binding agent is just dramatically better," Wahl said.

Synthetic Track Installer Pro-Ride has agreements to manufacture and distribute its patented polymeric binder in the USA.
Skylight Training Center located in Louisville Kentucky will be the first US Thoroughbred training facility to install this remarkable surface.
This is America’s first NON WAX based synthetic track installation. The installation will begin in the first week of August and horses are expected to be breezing around the new track on or about the 25th of August.
In recent discussions with the director of Pro-Ride Mr. Ian Pearse and trainers including Mr. Niall O’Callaghan, Mr. Pearse explained the difference between Pro-Ride and earlier wax based footings. “The big difference between Pro-Ride and other all weather synthetic tracks is the technical breakthrough in 2-phase cushioning technology. Horses work on top of the surface with the whole profile cushioning impact. Every stride of the horse should be consistent and have minimal kick back”. Mr. Pearse went on to state that the principles of the binding technique and 2-phase cushioning have been refined for the racing industry in the United States using a US raw material base. This assists in developing high quality footings at a reduced cost that are able to be adjusted for any climatic conditions.

A recent conversation with Steve Schollard (Gosford Race Club) revealed his delight at the performance of the Pro-Ride training track at Gosford last week.
The track received 2 inches of rain overnight and Steve was amazed to find that the surface was “as good as new” the next morning. Trainers were lavish in their praise of Pro-Rides resilience. This has again brought to the fore discussions of racing on synthetic surfaces.

Jockeys Aaron Gryder and Richard Migliore returned from Australia on Wednesday following a two-day tour to exercise horses on a Pro-Ride synthetic surface. The jockeys exercised horses at the Rosehill Gardens and Gosford training tracks. At Rosehill Gardens, Gryder and Migliore exercised six horses, some of which jogged and galloped and others that breezed in slow times. Wednesday, at Gosford, they worked a few horses out of the gate and then "set them down" for more vigorous exercise, Gryder said.
Both Gryder and Migliore spoke favourably of Pro-Ride. "I thought it was a good surface, firmer than the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park," Migliore said. "You kind of run a little more over the top of it, but it seems safe. We didn't ride any races, but we broke a bunch of horses out of the gate. In the two days we were there, Aaron got on 12 horses and I got on 12. We did everything from gallop to running full-out, almost like race-riding, whipping and driving. It was a surface I was comfortable with...I didn't have any problem with it.”
Gryder said that at the jockeys' suggestion Gosford fluffed up the Pro-Ride to give it greater cushion. "They really run over the top of it, instead of going into it," Gryder said. "It is so different to Polytrack, Cushion Track, and Tapeta."