Leading Turf consultants STRI join Leopardstown team

Leopardstown Racecourse have engaged the services of specialist sports surface consultants STRI to assist in the review, implementation and continued improvements of the National Hunt and Flat tracks at the course over the next two years.

The STRI Group is a global sports design, engineering and management consultancy, and is one of the world’s leading sports turf consultancy firms, having previously assisted Royal Ascot and Cheltenham.

STRI commenced their work in July and will support the Leopardstown track team in delivering the best conditions for the forthcoming National Hunt season and beyond.

Implementations which have already commenced include increased aeration and planned irrigation to the chase track in support of the grounds team. The impact of this will maximize grass health, growth, sward density and root bed, providing a greater cushioned surface.

Along with adjustments to grass management, the racecourse will also be upgrading their vehicle fleet by investing in a new Verti-drainer, self-propelled mowers with a wider swath cutting capability to reduce wheel marking and compaction, and looking at the irrigation infrastructure and recommending upgrades.

This investment in the track itself is also supported by the recent appointment of Jane Hedley as the new Leopardstown Racing and Operations Manager, who previously has acted in the role of Clerk of the Course at Nottingham, Warwick and Market Rasen.

Steve Gingell (Hons) and Senior Agronomist at STRI commented: “We are delighted to be appointed at Leopardstown and being able to bring our extensive Racecourse experience within the STRI Group to the track review.

We will bring a scientific and practical review to all aspects of the racecourse management resulting in progressive recommendations and support of the grounds team over the next two years.”

Tim Husbands, CEO at Leopardstown Racecourse said: “We are delighted to add the expertise of STRI to our extremely knowledgeable groundstaff team.

"STRI have been making regular visits to Leopardstown since their appointment in July, and have made constructive suggestions on a variety of aspects around the preparation and maintenance of the racing surface.

"We are very much looking forward to working with them over the next two years as they provide a valuable additional resource to the ever developing ambitions of Leopardstown”.