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As synthetic racing surfaces become more common, so does the insallation of drainage systems beneath them.
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| ADS HDPE pipe replaces deteriorating reinforced concrete pipe |
In horse racing, horse and jockey safety is top priority. Racetracks across the world are continually looking for ways to make their racing surfaces safer and more consistent.
With conventional dirt tracks, water drains horizontally, which can compromise a track’s condition by allowing it to freeze in cold temperatures or become muddy after hard rains. These types of conditions can lead to a decrease in the number of starters and increases in the number of injuries and the number of cancelled racing days – all of which can contribute to unappealing wagering and reduced track attendance.
Some racetracks, such as Keeneland in Lexington, KY, are turning to improved drainage and synthetic racing surfaces like Polytrack to help solve the problem.
This particular surface is made up of a blend of fibers, recycled rubber, and silica sand covered with a wax coating that allows water to flow vertically through the top surface to the sub-layers below and helps avoid a freezing or inconsistent racetrack. The sub-layers include porous macadam and dense aggregate rock that provide a solid foundation, while the vertical drainage system carries water away from the track. Together, they work to provide a safer, more consistent racing surface in comparison to conventional dirt tracks.
To date, three North America racing facilities, including Keeneland, have announced that they will install this type of track and drainage system.
In the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, this storied racetrack was originally built in the 1930s and has since played host to some of the greatest races in the history of the sport. Keeneland has also welcomed many notable people over the years, including Queen Elizabeth II, Former President George Bush Sr., the Princess Royal, and Princess Anne of England.
The racetrack has seen many changes throughout the years. Keeneland’s grandstand, concessions, and wagering technology were all modernized, but, surprisingly, the main racetrack’s design and layout stayed the same.
In 2006, the time had come to say goodbye to the old dirt track. Keeneland Association officials made the decision to replace it with the vertical drainage system and Polytrack combination. “Our track has not changed much since it was laid out and constructed using mules prior to our first race meeting in 1936. The time had come for us to take advantage of the latest, cutting-edge advancements to create the safest racing environment possible, furthering the mission outlined by our founders to build a model racetrack,” says Keeneland’s president and CEO, Nick Nicholson.
Keeneland’s existing dirt track was not having drainage problems, but the new vertical drainage system was installed was because it is a prerequisite to the Polytrack. One needs the other to function properly, and the success of the final track depends on the two working in unison.
The Project
The installation process was extensive and the deadlines tight. The project began in May and needed to be complete by the end of August – in time for Keeneland’s fall race meeting. Engineers and contractors were all under pressure and knew that if they were to complete this project on time, superior and versatile drainage products would have to be used.
The drainage system was constructed using Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) pipes and Nyloplast structures and basins. Engineers and contractors who worked on the project all stressed the fact that the success of this synthetic racing surface is dependent on the quality of the drainage system installed underneath it.
Harvey Helm, an engineer with GRW Inc., recommended the pipe and associated structures, and Keeneland, which had used the products in the past, agreed. “We chose ADS because of the quality of their products, their lower installation costs, lightweight design, and practicality when working under tight deadlines and restrictions. We have always had good success with these products, and that’s why I recommended them,” says Helm.
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| Installation of ADS N-12 pipe |
Three runs of perforated pipe running parallel to each other around the track were put in place, spaced about 20 feet apart. Every 300 feet around the track, the three perforated pipes were connected to a cross-drain perforated pipe that ran toward the inside of the track. These cross drains connected to the Nyloplast manholes, which were spaced 300 feet apart.
Under the inner part of the track, just past the rail, a system of pipe was installed to gather the water coming from the track to the Nyloplast manholes.
This system drained in multiple directions around the entire inner portion of the track. The pipe diameter ranged from 8 inches at the high point and grew in diameter to 30 inches at the low point.
At the low point of the manhole, a 42-inch-diameter pipe was placed across the track and over the back slope to an existing manhole.
Pipes and basins were also used around the clubhouse lawn areas for drainage of the newly established grades.
Elevation of the grandstand apron changed as well. This required an end-to-end drainage structure to empty the runoff of the trench and roof drains.
All told, the track and drainage installation incorporated almost 9,000 feet of drainage pipe and 62 structures and basins; 16,000 tons of specialized Polytrack material; 90,000 tons of limestone; and 4,500 tons of porous asphalt.
“The ease of adjustment on the Nyloplast really played a key role, especially in the grandstand area because of the number of existing roof drains,” says Tommy Cramer, project manager with Central Rock Mineral Company. “We used ADS pipe to tie the new system into the existing one.”
“The pipe with its longer length and ease of use with the Nyloplast made for an ideal setup,” adds David Curry, vice president of Central Rock Mineral Company.
The Results
The new track has already been put to the test. Shortly after the installation, a record-setting rainfall poured down, and the new drainage system passed with flying colors.
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| Keeneland Racetrack completed and ready for the next big race |
The track’s inaugural fall race meeting, held October 6 to 28, 2006, was a huge success. Results included an increase in total wagering, record attendance, and average field size of 10.02 starters per race.
The new design also attracted an extraordinarily high number of starters, as well as a large contingent of Breeders’ Cup-bound horses.
“This meet has been extraordinary for us in so many ways,” says Nicholson. “While we are proud of the many records that were set, we are even more proud of how well the Polytrack surface and ADS drainage system performed. It remained very safe throughout the meet, despite getting more than twice the usual amount of rainfall during the month.”
The Future of Racetrack Drainage
In early 2006, The California Horse Racing Board declared that all major tracks in the state would have to install a synthetic surface by December 31, 2007, or have their racing licenses annulled. Is this the start of a trend? If so, racetracks, engineers, and contractors should all be comforted in knowing that their collective drainage needs can be fulfilled.
SW May 2008
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