Bernard Saundry, with daughter Alex (who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFL Women's competition), will oversee the development of synthetic surfaces. Photo / Getty Images
Bernard Saundry, with daughter Alex (who plays for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFL Women's competition), will oversee the development of synthetic surfaces. Photo / Getty Images
Racing Minister Winston Peters says three synthetic (all-weather) tracks will be built in New Zealand but industry participants and punters have plenty of questions.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing boss Bernard Saundry was in charge of Racing Victoria when they went through this process and his organisation will be responsible for overseeing the development of synthetic surfaces in New Zealand.
Today, he answers some of those questions for the Weekend Herald.
For the uninitiated, what exactly are synthetic thoroughbred tracks?
A synthetic track is a sand, polymer binder and fibre cushion surface on a porous drainage base, which is suitable for horses to gallop on. All these characteristics work together to give the surface its "all weather" ability, its exceptional drainage capability and ability to consistently deliver a "good" rated track. They are called "all-weather" tracks because they can be used safely during or following all weather conditions, which is not the case for traditional turf tracks.
Every major training centre needs a synthetic track to provide trainers with the same consistent "good" rated surface (and a variable selection of training surface options) for horse training six mornings a week. Synthetic tracks are also great to trial and conduct jump outs on and can substitute for a grass gallop.
Having a synthetic track for trials and jump outs at major training centres reduces costs to owners of travelling and can be used as many times as needed.
Last week, Peters suggested three such tracks will be built in NZ. Did that surprise you?
No. The minister has been supportive of synthetic tracks in the New Zealand First racing policy. It makes sense for these tracks to be distributed across New Zealand.
As best you can estimate, how much would each all-weather track cost?
Total construction costs can be up to $10 million. The exact cost is dependent on the size and width of the track. For example, the new Pakenham track in Victoria cost approximately $10m - 2000m in circumference and 16m wide.
How do the ongoing maintenance costs compare with a normal grass surface?
Day-to-day maintenance is considerably less expensive than on a turf surface. Minor maintenance is required daily to prepare track for training. This can be done by one person.
Every three to five years synthetic tracks require major maintenance with the replenishment of polymer and fibres. This costs about $250,000.
At Awapuni, we are estimating we would accrue $80,000 per year in total maintenance costs including annual maintenance and the three to five-year major refit.
At Caulfield, there is a 12 metre-wide training surface that cost $26,000 per annum for the first 3 years and has more than 220 horses work on the surface every morning.
Why do we need synthetic tracks now when NZ racing has survived without them for so long?
The racing world has moved on and we need to catch up. We are competing for punters' eyeballs with countries that can deliver consistent and reliable racing on synthetic tracks. We need synthetic tracks for training and trialing all year around and for racing during the winter.
These tracks will also aid the early spring preparations of our horses and increase their chances of being competitive in the best races in both New Zealand and Australia.
From your experience in Victoria, what are the pros and cons of all-weather racing tracks?
The major advantages are that you never lose a race meeting at that venue due to rain, and you can relocate cancelled or washed out race meetings from other venues on to a synthetic track, so as wagering is not lost and stake money not lost to the industry. Synthetic tracks can sustain a far greater volume of racing in one place than a grass track and will also relieve the pressure on our established grass tracks.
The Pakenham track in Victoria, on the outskirts of Melbourne, is a good example of the all-weather surface. Photo /Getty Images
The main disadvantage is that some trainers and horse owners have a cultural aversion to racing on synthetic tracks. This was the early experience in Victoria. Synthetic tracks are well understood by punters and trainers in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore, which have had synthetic tracks for many years.
Why do you think some trainers are, at best, lukewarm on them and some even opposed to them?
Racing has been a conservative sport and synthetic tracks are new. Most trainers now accept that change is not something to fear. For trainers who are not familiar with how they work, they can worry that their horses will not perform as well as they had expected or hoped.
Many of our major trainers now want these to happen. For example, we have received a letter of support from major Waikato trainers for a synthetic track at Cambridge.
Would an all-weather track be in addition to the grass track at that venue or would it replace it?
The best outcome is to have two racing and training surfaces - grass and synthetic - at major training and racing centres that conduct up to 40 race meetings a year with a mix of both surfaces.
In the minds of NZTR bosses, is there a preferred all-weather or synthetic surface, for example, Polytrack?
We do not have a preferred supplier. Should a synthetic track be approved and supported by the industry and the Government we would have a competitive tender process. There are multiple suppliers of this surface, each with successful implementations operating around the world.
We would also conduct test bed trials of the various surfaces to ensure we had the best surface for the regional weather patterns.
If the Government comes up with even half the money for three all-weather tracks, how does the industry come up with the other half?
We agree that the industry would need to have skin in the game in relation to the funding of these surfaces. The proposals we have already received from racing clubs in relation to synthetic surfaces acknowledge that clubs, NZTR and the NZRB should contribute.
In Victoria, did you find any differing safety concerns, for either horses or jockeys, from all-weather to grass tracks?
No. Safety is usually a function of track design and not so much the surface being galloped on. The Pakenham track taught us a big spacious properly-designed synthetic is safer for horse and jockey than a tight, small turf track.
What is the most likely time-frame for NZ to have its first synthetic track race meeting.
Our hope is that we could have at least one track available in time for the start of next winter (2019). This will still take a considerable amount of work behind the scenes and commitment from each of the relevant parties to get this achieved.
Is there anything else you think it is important for those involved in the industry to know about these potential developments?
These tracks are not going to change the overall unique style of New Zealand racing. We will still race our best and majority of race meetings on our best tracks in our best weather. Synthetic tracks will supplement and complement the strength of New Zealand racing, not undermine it.
The preparation and early racing careers of our horses will be improved and the wear and tear on our grass tracks will be significantly reduced.
Synthetic tracks are also not a panacea for all our challenges. As the minister has said, the industry requires radical change if it is to thrive in the 21st century and synthetic tracks are just one part of a bigger programme of change that is required.
We will all benefit if the industry embraces that change.
Synthetic tracks will be a key aspect of NZTR's venue planning for the future. It is good for training, racing, horses and punters.
