The Going: All Hands On Deck
Today’s The Going for #GroundsWeek focuses on Hereford Racecourse as Executive Director Rebecca Davies discusses the unique microclimate of Hereford and the Dunkirk spirit of the tight-knit grounds team.
Hereford Racecourse resplendent in the morning sun (image courtesy of Hereford Racecourse)
Q: Let’s start with a look at Hereford Racecourse—what are the unique challenges of maintaining the racecourse?
Our local micro-climate against the Welsh Mountains often means our rainfall can be all or nothing which can cause us a headache, particularly in terms of jeopardising racedays with waterlogging and run-off from other areas impacting our site.
We have a small groundsteam that are responsible for everything, led by Clerk of the Course Libby O’Flaherty and Head Groundsman Warren Broad, and they’re brilliant at it!
This does mean that we sometimes have to prioritise workload where we had not planned to do so to beat the challenges of the weather, but that’s life and we do it to the best of our ability. Most importantly it’s done with a smile on our face to an incredible standard.
Q: How many hours does it take to prepare the racecourse for a raceday?
Planning starts the minute the prior raceday has finished, and sometimes before then!
We are often working on plans and ideas to improve the racing surface, racecourse layout or the site in general—the team really never stop considering how we can provide the best racecourse we can.
Always looking forward: the planning and preparation for racedays never stops (image courtesy of Hereford Racecourse)
Q: Has being part of a team and working outdoors had a positive impact on morale over the past 12 months?
It’s been a tough year for reasons we all know, and on top of that we sadly lost a valued Groundsman last year to cancer as well. That said, the whole team have supported each other with office staff helping outside and vice versa.
There has been a bit of a Dunkirk Spirit and it’s been fun for everyone doing things beyond their normal role, from getting wings and lead-ins down at the end of the season to putting frost covers down; it’s all hands on deck and we have a laugh at the same time which is important.
It was a case of all hands on deck when snow and frost threatened racedays in the winter months (image courtesy of Hereford Racecourse)
Q: #GroundsWeek is all about celebrating groundsmanship and encouraging others into the profession. What is the best part of being grounds staff?
As I’ve mentioned, the camaraderie amongst the team is just brilliant and we’ve had to come together over the past year more than at any other time. We’re a real team and I know this is similar at lots of other racecourses.
Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the industry?
Simply this: be prepared to work hard, put the hours in and you’ll be rewarded.
Tomorrow’s The Going features Haydock Park Racecourse. The full set of racecourse interviews will be available to view at the end of the week.
