New traps in operation at Oxford

The new traps with fresh livery completed earlier this afternoon.

Following months of controversy, Oxford’s new traps will be in situ for the final of the Galaxy Marathon which takes place tonight.

Issues with slow and inconistent opening of the traps have led to welfare and form concerns and the track have been working overtime to replace the offending boxes. The first test of the new traps took place at 5am this morning. This is how it went. . .

Promoter Kevin Boothby said: “There has been so much work go into this. Dave (brother) and the lads at the track have been working solidly since Tuesday night.

“These are the traps originally built by Gavin Smith for Henlow but they have had to be adapted for Oxford due to different spec including the concrete pad. They worked overnight and finally got them operational at 5am this morning and tested this afternoon by GBGB.

“I would have loved to have bought six sets of traps like this 18 months ago, but you just can’t go to Tesco and buy them. They have a very powerful spring mechanism which will always be better than the pnematics. We have tried and persevered to make them work, but just had to give up in the end.”

Very similar traps, same mechanism, but with sloped fronts, are due to be installed imminantly at Towcester though Boothby declined to pre-empt the unveiling.

Oxford punters will have the opportunity of seeing the new boxes first hand at tonight’s meeting.

The feature race on the card is the Star Sports Galaxy Marathon Final. Last week’s heats saw winners with very different running styles.