RACING:PUNCHESTOWN IS pursuing a radical departure for Irish racing by covering 70,000sq metres of the track in an attempt to beat the freezing temperatures forecast for this weekend.
In an initiative that is expected to cost more than €20,000, the home of Irish National Hunt racing is working with Bord na Mona and Shabra Plastics to cover four miles of the course with strong-gauge polythene ahead of Sunday’s scheduled fixture.
Bord na Mona use the product to cover some bogland during the winter, and Punchestown’s authorities are experimenting to see if it will protect the racecourse against temperatures expected to reach almost minus five degrees.
Some British courses already cover extensively, but Sunday’s fixture, featuring a clash between Big Zeb and Sizing Europe in the Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase, will be a first for Ireland.
“The likes of Kempton, Sandown and Cheltenham can expect up to 15,000 people through their gates at £40 a pop, which means Cheltenham can employ 80 people to take off covers before racing,” Punchestown’s manager Richie Galway said. “It is labour intensive and hasn’t been viable on an Irish racecourse before.
“We had been talking to Bord na Mona and Rita Shah (Shabra) about this, but after losing the Durkan meeting, and with this Sunday’s meeting under serious threat if we do nothing, we have decided to do everything we can and try this.
“These strips are 10m wide and 120m long and they will cover both the chase and the hurdles tracks. We are putting it down this evening, but getting it up will be the big job. We have a good crew of people here though, so we feel it is worth a go,” he added.
Met Éireann are forecasting temperatures of minus 4.5 tonight. Temperatures of at least minus three are expected for tomorrow night.
If Punchestown’s experiment works, it could be the start of a new deal for the track in terms of sharing the capital costs for putting down covers in future.
Big Zeb’s trainer Colm Murphy, welcomed the move: “This is brilliant news,” he said. “It’s great they have taken the lead in planning to beat the elements.
“Racing has suffered this season and Punchestown must be applauded in the efforts they are taking to ensure this meeting goes ahead.”
