Just over a year ago, Cork Racecourse, at Mallow in southern Ireland, took delivery of a Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD8, deep aerator to help with year-round preparation of their track.
The XD8 was supplied by Michael Weldon from local Wiedenmann UK dealer Seamus Weldon’s of Killarney.
According to Cork’s General Manager, Eoghan O’Grady, the XD8 has performed exactly as hoped.
“It’s used regularly across the calendar by our team of five and we find it does a really good job. Immediately after racing, a pre-arranged crowd of back fillers take to the course to back fill all the damage done during the meeting to the turf by the horses’ hooves. They carry buckets of rootzone and seed mix to repair the divots. Once repaired, and conditions allowing, we go out with the Terra Spike, using the widest possible diameter tines, so 20 mm or 25 mm, going as deep as we can to decompact the course.
“Regular terra spiking lets air, water and nutrients permeate through the profile and it improves the quality of the grass plant and noticeably helps drainage.
“It’s so important the track is safe for horses and riders. We want healthy and plentiful grass coverage that provides a good cushion for the horses’ feet. We don’t want the surface to be hard. The Terra Spike is a vital piece of kit.”
Cork racecourse is home to top-class jump and flat racing. One of the busiest racecourses in Ireland, racing takes place in all months, except February, with 20 meets a year.
The course is a right-handed track, one and a half miles round and has a straight sprint course of five furlongs.
Known for the Cork Grand National Handicap Chase and the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase over fences. Cork's major flat events include the Group 3 Munster Oaks and Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes.
