Cheltenham Racecourse, Gloucestershire
General
Cheltenham Racecourse main priority is to provide the very best racing conditions for racing throughout the year but with special emphasis on the Cheltenham Festival in March.
This is achieved by reserving the inside part of the track for the Festival. Widening the track on the straight at the finish line enables the wear to be spread to maintain a good racing surface throughout the three days of the Festival. The realigned home bend provides an improved smoother racing line.
The key to the success of the project was to marry the new track surface smoothly with the existing track and to provide going conditions to match the existing ground as closely as possible. At the same time it was essential that the drainage of the new ground performed well following a relatively short period for the turf to establish and mature.
Client:
Cheltenham Racecourse
Date:
2002
Services Provided:
- STRI worked with Consulting Engineers, Quadrant Consulting to carry out initial enabling works to widen the finish straight and re-align the home bend as well as three smaller areas of the track.
- Obtain planning consents for footpath diversion.
- Feasibility study to assess the works required and costs.
- Prepare the design specification for the civil and track works.
- Prepare and issue tender documents.
- Assess tenders received and advise on appointment.
- Monitor the works and administer the contract.
- Analyse and construction materials.
- Monitor the turf establishment works.
- Assess the ground conditions for racing.
Scope of Work:
- Extend a large concrete box culvert on a watercourse.
- Excavate an embankment and trim to form a new formation surface.
- Divert a small stream, footpaths, tracks and canterdown.
- Widen the home (stud) bend and the Home straight.
- Widen and re-align three additional bends on the course
- Install track drainage systems.
- Re-align irrigation system.
- Construct new track profile with drainage layers and topsoil recovered from site.
- Maintain the grass sward.
Completed Works:
- The new ground has proved effective in maintaining the quality of the racing surface.
- Jockeys have not identified any change in the ground conditions from the old to the new ground.
- Drainage performance has proved to be effective.
- The designed profile allows for aeration work to relieve soil compaction.
- It provides greater control over the condition of the ground and racing condition.
- The increased area of turf has given Cheltenham greater flexibility in managing the course.
