Maintaining a strong, healthy and dense sward over a wet winter
period is a headache for any Turf Manager, but for Head Groundsman at Warwick
Racecourse Guy Woodward, that challenge is further exacerbated by the impact of
horses pounding the flats and taking the jumps.
For Guy to achieve any germination and recovery, he needs a seed
mixture that can perform under some of the most challenging growing conditions.
Guy has turned to new tetraploid technology in the Masterline
ProMaster 79 mixture, to deliver just that.
Since the decision was made in 2014 to covert to an all-jumps race
programme, Warwick Racecourse has established itself as one of the leading,
small National Hunt racing courses.
“Our season runs from the end of September to the end of May, with
fixtures right through the winter” explains Guy who heads up a grounds team of
four. “In a normal season we will backfill with a combination of soil and seed
after every meet, as well as moving the hurdles to give the horses fresh ground
and helping us spread the wear and maintain coverage.
“When it comes to making my decision on seed mixtures, the key
criteria is a seed that can germinate late and early in the year. I spoke with
Ian Barnett of DLF Seeds and he recommended the ProMaster 79 mixture from
Masterline.”
PM79 contains 50% Double 4Turf tetraploid ryegrass, in combination
with 20% Platinum and 30% Esquire diploid ryegrass to offer germination through
the tough winter period. “Though we don’t expect to achieve masses of growth,
if we overseed whilst carrying out our post-meet repairs means we know the seed
is there when the time is right, and if we do get any peaks in temperature, we
may get some growth.”
Following months of rainfall, which left areas of the course badly
waterlogged, the warmer temperatures now see the PM79 mixture once again
working well.
“We’re getting the germination I look for and all of the
overseeding we’ve done through the winter is showing on the racing lines. It’s
thanks to DLF that we seem to have a mixture that’s working for us and our
requirements, helping to maintain strong coverage even when mother nature does
her best to stop us!”
