Sapporo Racecourse prepares for seven-week racing season
Friday, 19 July, 2024 16:31
Sapporo Racecourse
With Hakodate races concluding last week, Sapporo Racecourse in Hokkaido is set to kick off a new seven-week racing season. As the opening week approaches, the turf at Sapporo is meticulously maintained, with grass length uniformly set between 10 to 14 centimetres, appearing lush and vibrant in readiness for the races.
Yosuke Numata, the manager of turf maintenance at Sapporo Racecourse, shared insights into the preparation process, "Watering was particularly challenging this year. Since April, we haven't had much rain, and June's rainfall was only about half the average. Ideally, we'd get uniform rain, but we had to rely on sprinklers and watering trucks to spray water from the outer track onto the turf. Thanks to the hard work of our staff, we're in good shape for the races," he said with a relieved smile.
Cool-season turf is unique to the two Hokkaido racecourses, which are well-suited to cold climates in Hokkaido Prefecture. "Cool-season turf is much more delicate compared to warm-season grass. It doesn't do well in high temperatures and requires consistent moisture," Numata explained. The record-breaking heat in Hokkaido last summer posed significant challenges. The average temperature in the region was the highest since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records 46 years ago, with Sapporo recording its highest-ever temperature of 36.3 degrees celsius on August 23.
Ideally, cool-season turf thrives in temperatures between 15 to 25 degrees celsius. As the racing season progresses, the heat becomes more intense. "When it gets too hot, the turf goes into survival mode, reducing its size and shedding roots to conserve energy. This increases the risk of disease and can lead to a deteriorated track," Numata noted, emphasizing the difficulties in managing the turf under such conditions.
Looking ahead to increasingly hotter summers in Sapporo, there may be a need to consider switching to warm-season turf, despite the affinity some horses have for cool-season turf. "From a turf management perspective, there's room for discussion about replanting with warm-season grass. This could potentially extend the number of racing days in Sapporo and address heat-related issues," Numata said.
Despite these challenges, Numata remains dedicated and optimistic, "We'll continue to work closely with jockeys and monitor the weather to ensure the best possible track conditions." His enthusiasm for the job and commitment to supporting the races from behind the scenes is evident.
Yosuke Numata, the manager of turf maintenance at Sapporo Racecourse, shared insights into the preparation process, "Watering was particularly challenging this year. Since April, we haven't had much rain, and June's rainfall was only about half the average. Ideally, we'd get uniform rain, but we had to rely on sprinklers and watering trucks to spray water from the outer track onto the turf. Thanks to the hard work of our staff, we're in good shape for the races," he said with a relieved smile.
Cool-season turf is unique to the two Hokkaido racecourses, which are well-suited to cold climates in Hokkaido Prefecture. "Cool-season turf is much more delicate compared to warm-season grass. It doesn't do well in high temperatures and requires consistent moisture," Numata explained. The record-breaking heat in Hokkaido last summer posed significant challenges. The average temperature in the region was the highest since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records 46 years ago, with Sapporo recording its highest-ever temperature of 36.3 degrees celsius on August 23.
Ideally, cool-season turf thrives in temperatures between 15 to 25 degrees celsius. As the racing season progresses, the heat becomes more intense. "When it gets too hot, the turf goes into survival mode, reducing its size and shedding roots to conserve energy. This increases the risk of disease and can lead to a deteriorated track," Numata noted, emphasizing the difficulties in managing the turf under such conditions.
Looking ahead to increasingly hotter summers in Sapporo, there may be a need to consider switching to warm-season turf, despite the affinity some horses have for cool-season turf. "From a turf management perspective, there's room for discussion about replanting with warm-season grass. This could potentially extend the number of racing days in Sapporo and address heat-related issues," Numata said.
Despite these challenges, Numata remains dedicated and optimistic, "We'll continue to work closely with jockeys and monitor the weather to ensure the best possible track conditions." His enthusiasm for the job and commitment to supporting the races from behind the scenes is evident.
Article Creds:Daily Sports