Morphettville's New Training Track Gets the Thumbs Up

Thursday, 06 March 2003 00:00

Morphettville's trainers have given a resounding "thumbs-up" to its new synthetic training track which was opened for trackwork on Thursday morning.

The Proride surface, designed and installed by Proride Surfaces of Yarra Glen, Victoria, replaced the wood-fibre circuit. It comprises synthetic fibre, graded sand and a special wax binder. It is dust free and needs no watering.

David Balfour, who has more than 60 horses in his team, said the track was "absolutely fantastic".

"We worked horses on it for the first time this morning and it was terrific," Balfour, president of the SA Trainers' Association, said. "All the trainers seemed wrapped in how it performed and, speaking to the senior jockeys, they were all really happy with it as well. The horses had no problems on it at all."

The Proride surface is nine metres wide, 10cm deep and 2200m in circumference, with a straight of 350m. The corners are cambered at two per cent and the straights cambered at one per cent.

The cushioning effect of the surface absorbs most of the shock to horses legs, reducing stress and injury. Similar tracks are in use at Lindsay Park, Euroa, Macedon Lodge at Mount Macedon and Brandon Farms in South Australia.

Media Release - Jason Hickson (TRSA)