Greyville Polytrack...Is it the same track that was laid 10 or so years ago?

Muhtiman wrote:

These synthetic tracks can be very tricky and one needs to be super observant of the prevailing conditions.....but seriously it depends on the traffic and the natural elements and how and when track maintenance has taken place..... the track can behave particularly well because of adequate rainfall and  the substrates being almost "new".....the real  test of this surface come in drier, hotter periods not as familiar to the global  teams that lay these surfaces.... .as over time the polymers/plastic degrade because they have very little or no UV resistance.... these are degrading before they are even mixed into the  substrate....and as the traffic increases the physical breakdown due to the shearing/grinding of the silca/sand and the polymer composites is accelerated.....and then we come to the periods of very dry windy weather..... where winds blow extremely warm dry as high as 35deg....this will cause the wax to melt and drag(gravitate) the now broken down fines (silica and degraded plastics) below the upper surface and compact.....the track will become faster and less "springy".....they will be then forced to harrow and water more frequently and the mixture of fines and wax will clump on the surface after harrowing....I predict that the clumps even though broken down through harrowing will be sticky and briefly attach to hoof inner surface and get flung in a compact kick back.....in these periods it would be better to start extensive maintainence mixing in new polymer and silica and sifting out the fines.....but predicting on how the track will behave is largely a hit and miss affair ..... a total lottery

Muhtiman wrote:

......just rehashed and tweaked what I have posted here over the years....and although poly racing is a lottery it is today far better than the current highveldt dust bowl events ....so may take a wee interest today after sussing out the 1st few races.....the Azzie yard raiding has attracted the attention of bookies that have cautiously priced up some but although they have no poly form ....do work on the Rantjies poly surface....

Muhtiman wrote:

.....the track appears extremely dry and dusty....and devoid of any wax....basically a "dirt" track...which may be OK for present dry windy conditions.....but should it get wet before the dust or fines are removed then they will have major problems.....as adding wax and polymer to mud is a major waste of time and money...

Pirhobeta wrote:

Muhtiman wrote:

.....the track appears extremely dry and dusty....and devoid of any wax....basically a "dirt" track...which may be OK for present dry windy conditions.....but should it get wet before the dust or fines are removed then they will have major problems.....as adding wax and polymer to mud is a major waste of time and money...

Yes, my concern is that it only benefits a certain tactic/running style and does not help horses that are slow out of the pens, or slow to settle...

Muhtiman wrote:

.....the track appears extremely dry and dusty....and devoid of any wax....basically a "dirt" track...which may be OK for present dry windy conditions.....but should it get wet before the dust or fines are removed then they will have major problems.....as adding wax and polymer to mud is a major waste of time and money...