Lingfield Park take a break to install new £2 million Polytrack

By Simon Jackson, London24’s horse racing correspondent
Friday, September 21, 2012
5:24 PM

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Today’s meeting at Lingfield Park will be the last until mid-October for the Surrey track who will now take a 25 day break from racing to install a new £2million all-weather Polytrack.

Lingfield Park, one of the 17 tracks of the newly formed Arena Racing Company (ARC) following the merger of the Northern Racing and Arena Leisure plc, will shut down temporarily after today’s seven race card and reopen for racing on Wednesday October 17.

The new surface is set to be installed by Martin Collins Enterprises, the UK’s top equestrian surface manufacturer and installer who have expressed their delight at their continued association with Arena.

“That first Polytrack incorporated waxing and our other new technologies which had been well tried on gallops, but it was still radical for Lingfield to choose it for a racing surface back in 2001,” Martin Collins said.

“The durability and energy-return of the Lingfield Polytrack went on to raise the quality of racing on all-weather and continues to provide the main shop window for our product.

“There are now 17 Polytrack racecourses worldwide, more than all-competitor products combined, and with contracts and other tenders in progress, Polytrack is fast heading towards its 20th track.

“Naturally I am delighted to be continuing our strong, pioneering relationship with Arena.”

Tony Kelly, managing director of ARC, said: “We commence the replacement of the all-weather track at Lingfield Park at a cost of nearly £2 million. This is due to be completed in time for the raceday on October 17.