Heads not in fibresand with £100k safety spending spree

Musselburgh Racecourse is to invest £100,000 to improve the safety of horses and jockeys racing on its National Hunt jumps track.

Work is due to start on installing a 12 by 70 metre fibresand strip after the winning post bend and the East Lothian track will be the first UK course to integrate a composite material with a turf track.

The section of the track being replaced suffers from excessive wear and tear over the course of the winter jumps season, which can cause the ground to become loose and a potential hazard for horses and jockeys.

The British Horseracing 
Authority has encouraged Musselburgh to make the changes, while trainers and jockeys have given unanimous backing to the improvements.

Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “This part of the track has caused some concern over the years so we are taking action before the start of our National Hunt season.

“By replacing the turf with a fibre and sand mix, it will reduce slippage and lessen the chance of injury to both horses and jockeys. The changes will not impinge in any way on the historic golf course and the work will be completed quickly.”