Racing to be revolutionised!

That was the promise in a publication under RA news where the following was revealed in 2001.

"The VaaL will also be able to accomadate many more meetings than at present as a result of the construction of a sand racing surface which is on schedule to be completed by July [2001].

The sand track which will revolutionise racing in this country is at the centre of a R10 million project at the racecourse in which grooms quarters have been upgraded and 10 stable blocks, each comprising offices and 14 stables have been built."

After the Emerald Cup debacle, is the REVOLUTION over?

Revolution

A revolution (from the Latin revolutio, "a turn around") is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time

Industrial revolution more appropraite here! Nothing political.

I thought the Emerald Cup was a great race to watch.

But a mate of mine reminded me that when the Vaal sand was being installed by those in the know, it was said that we would never lose another meeting due to weather. Ah...wishfully thinking.

Gosforth Park IMHO would have been a superb venue for a sand track. With the near bend horses to fly,isn't speed is what it's all about, if one follows all these sectionals that the Americans pay so much attention to?

The wheels of the bus go round and round.............................. :lol:

And so the revolution of S.A. Racing enters a new chapter with the sand being dug up and a new turf track to be installed in it.

The new Vaal Turf Racecourse will no longer boast to be South Africa's equivalent to Royal Ascot with a mile long straight [lol] but with the configuration of the present sand track, will the following prevail or will there be changes ?

Races run over 1200/1400/1600 on the sand are run on the sharp bend whereas races down the straight turf track for the corresponding distances are run on the straight.

Already a revolution to racing, well at the Vaal anyway. :lol:

The operators should take heart as they join the Sheikkhs in Dubai who installed a Tapeta at Meydan at great cost, then had it dug up and replaced by a sand/dirt whatever so that the Americans could be competitive in the Emirates.

Only drawback is the Emirates have oodles of boodle of course. :lol:

I recall about 7-8 years ago when Paul Whitmore was overseeing the huge Laird string I asked him how we could remedy the Vaal Sand: "Plant grass over it" - How prophetic

why don't they just save themselves a looot of costs and put 20 treadmills at the winning post and string the horses to it - no jockeys needed even. The fastest rotational is the winning horse, after the length of time the race would've taken if run on turf/sand.
hahahaaaa now that's a revolutionary idea!

Why bother planting turf? There are already two turf tracks.

Mac wrote: Why bother planting turf? There are already two turf tracks.

Let us pray fervently that sanity prevails and that the old inner and outer courses will have the partitions broken down like they did with the Berlin Wall and we have one unified Vaal track like what was in place in the past

The NEW inner Vaal turf track will bring a new dimension to racing at the Vaal with races of 1200mts and upwards run around the bend so it will be interesting to see the outcomes, there looks to be something positive to look forward to after all the..........kickback? :lol: :lol: :lol: