Speedcut keeps Chepstow Racecourse right on track

Heavy storms which left neighbouring areas under water caused delays to major drainage work at Chepstow Racecourse.

But Speedcut Contractors of Oxford worked during the gaps in the weather to complete the job by early August.

"We decided to put in gravel and sand slits from the last fence to the road crossing," said Tim Long, clerk of the course at both Chepstow and Bath Racecourses.

"Being close to the River Severn, heavy rain during the winter months is quite normal. And this summer we have had the same rainfall that has hit the whole region.

"But we pride ourselves on keeping the tracks up to scratch with a constant programme of maintenance."

Chepstow is a busy jump and flat racecourse with 14 fixtures from May to September and 16 from October to the end of April. The superb racing conditions are down to
head groundsman Robert Mottram - who has been at Chepstow for 25 years - and his five full-time groundstaff.

"The course is on clay loam and we have been doing drainage work over the past 18 months," says Tim. "From the end of December to March is usually very wet here and we have our work cut out keeping the course drained.

"We do have our own small verti-drainer, something racecourses would not have done years ago - but we can only do surface remedial work.

"For major drainage work we rely on experts with the experience of Speedcut and they have coped well with the weather conditions we have had to contend with over the summer.

"They had to call a halt several times over the last few weeks of July because of the appalling weather but pulled out all the stops as soon as there was a break in the rain."

Kevin Smith, contracts manager for Speedcut, said: "Chepstow is a magnificent racecourse and we have been delighted to help keep the course operating at its usual busy level with this essential drainage work."

Speedcut contact details: Kevin Smith on 01865 331479