SANDRACER.COM - All-Weather Racing Is The Next Big Thing

All-Weather Racing - The Next Big Racing Thing?

Being an all-weather racing fan, of course I am going to think racing on the fibresand(southwell) and polytrack meetings (kempton, lingfield, wolverhampton) is going to be the next big thing where British horse racing is concerned. The fact horses get injured less racing on the sand is a major plus for all-weather racing alltold. The biggest negative is the relative low-grade, not far from banded races run all too often on the sand-tracks, but I think that will change over time.

Personally, I prefer to know the going and which horses can handle the sand-like surfaces. I seem to win alot more money betting horses on the all-weather racing tracks, than on the turf.

The Bookies certainly don't mind your all-weather racing either. Less abandoned race meeting during the winter, means more betting turnover in the highstreet betting shops, obviously being the reason.

A new all-weather racetrack - Great Leighs is currently being built in sunny Essex, albeit slowly. Plus Sedgefield has applied for and gained planning permission to build another all-weather track.

Musselburgh are waiting with baited breath for the Scottish Executive's go ahead, after gaining planning permission to install Scotland's first all-weather surface. Apparently even Newbury are mulling over whether to join the sand-racing trend soon.

Financial Times writer Robin Oakley seems to like the UK racing on the sand. Citing various high profile jockeys and racehorse trainers in his all-weather racing report published on March 24, 2007. Aptly entitled The Going Is Good On Britain's All-Weather Tracks.

There are still quite a few all-weather racing knockers though. Highlighted by a recent BBC 606 All Weather Racing Discussion Thread (24 March 2007). Some of which I agree with, but the majority of all-weather haters are traditionalists, who prefer not to listen to racing trainers who state that their horses rarely get injured running on the sand.

♠ Jockey's View Of The Polytrack At Wolverhampton Racecourse (video)
♠ Jockey's View Of The Fibresand At Southwell Racecourse (video)