There is preparation. . . and there is preparation
Ladbrokes Head of Stadia Richard Brankley is not a man to be caught unprepared. The winter weather salt bays at Crayford and Monmore were stocked up with rocksalt, PDV and magnesium sulphate by workmen in summer shorts looking forward to the Rio Olympics.
Needless to say, the priority in late November is heatstroke and the track have just taken possession of a giant freezer to keep the greyhounds cool. The adapted cargo container will be available to be used by trainers in the warmest weather if their dogs have suffered bad journeys on the way to the track, or if they are showing signs of heat distress following their races or trials.
Brankley said: “It comes on the back of conversations about similar provisions at Kinsley. There is a lot of good work being done at tracks that should become best practice for all tracks. The room comes with its own air conditioning unit and once connected the room will have a controllable ambient temperature that can be set to 8 -19 degrees centigrade, with access to water and direct air movement to aid evaporation. In addition to being an isolation facility the aim is to provide the optimum environment for a greyhound with a high temperature, dehydration or having a fit. Though it’s a bit like paying an insurance premium – happy to pay the money but would rather never have to use it. The plan is to replicate at Crayford.”
In the meantime, Brankley has ordered work on a new sprinkler system for Crayford to keep the track is pristine condition . . . . in the hot weather!
Brankley said: “I was fortunate to spend some time with Martin Wingham the Track and Facilities Manager for Corals during the BAGS track championship meeting at Romford and as a consequence will be installing a similar system at Crayford with all units installed around the inside running rail. There is no substitute for natural rainfall but with an effective sprinkler system, bowser and hoses all available the track will be best positioned to maintain the running surface during the summer months.”
(After this headline I might be off Richard’s Christmas card list – for 2017. Luckily this year’s card arrived in August- Ed)
