Ascot

Street CraneXpress Ltd helped to develop ‘Ground Moving’ technology which has taken the horseracing industry by storm. Access roads cutting through racetracks are hazardous to galloping racehorses and their riders. The matting which is normally used to cover the hard road surfaces during a race is a poor substitute for shock absorbent turf and provides the thoroughbreds with limited protection.

Improving the quality and safety of racetracks would normally involve the construction of road ridges and/or underpasses. In either case the cost of undertaking such work renders the project completely unviable.

Turnberry Consulting came up with the idea of ‘Movable Turf Crossings,’ which can be deployed during a race meeting to seamlessly cover the access roads, and removed again to reinstate public road access during periods when the racetrack is not in use.

Ascot subsequently commissioned the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), who created the standalone section of turf track, hardwearing enough to withstand the hooves of galloping racehorses, but light enough to be moved into and out of position.

SCX proudly accepted the challenge of developing the mechanical means of manoeuvring the turf platform with exacting precision and immediately began working with STRI to build a prototype Moveable Turf Crossing measuring 6m x 2m. After rigorous testing the prototype as finally installed at Newmarket where it underwent a series of demanding trials using galloping horses. Closely observed by important members of the horseracing industry, the trials were declared an overwhelming success. The horses galloped over the moveable section of track, completely oblivious to its presence and the turf surface passed its performance tests with flying colours. Everyone present at the trials gave the revolutionary technology their unanimous vote of confidence.

A scaled up version of the Newmarket prototype was then installed at Ascot Racecourse with other similar installations planned worldwide. Measuring 54m x 4.5m and weighing approximately 200 tonnes, the moveable turf crossing can be wheeled into and out of position on rails in just 15 minutes. Before the turf platform can be moved horizontally, it must first be hydraulically raised so as to clear the surrounding track and then lowered into position to form a wedge-tight fit.

SCX designed the entire mechanical system with precision movement in mind. Safety and case of operation are ensured using a remote radio controller with simple command functions.

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