This is the time of the year when racing at Moonee Valley goes into recess, with no racing for a nine week period.

With 29 race meetings throughout the season, and 21 of those meetings between October and April, it is natural the track is getting tired and in need of attention.

While the grass remains green and lush, as it was on Saturday last, it carries a lot of traffic throughout the year.

There is no short cutting at Moonee Valley, no expense has ever been spared in presenting a great racing surface and no time wasted.

The renovation of the track is well under way for completion, with three race meetings over the winter period, the first being June 3.

Racecourse manager, Martin Synan, knows Moonee Valley like no one else; he has been there for 30 years serving his time well, 12 years as assistant manager before taking over the reins four and a half years ago.

With a staff of 21 to support him during the renovation everything is falling into place.    

One of the main issues to be addressed is Poa Annua, a shallow rooted grass, or common name winter grass, and minor compaction due to machinery traffic throughout the year.

The renovation consists of removing the entire running rail, mowing the turf down to 3 inches; the track is normally at a height of 6.5 inches for race meetings.

The next move is to vacuum all the clippings from the track in preparation for the contractors to come in and carry out their work.

Then scarified to remove thatch and Poa that was sprayed prior to the last Saturday’s race meeting, using Matrix and vacuumed again.

A growth retardant, Primo, which lasts about six weeks, is then applied to keep existing turf at 3 inches while the new seed establishes itself.

A top dressing of sand 5 to 10 mm is applied, then Verti Drained with 18mm Tynes to relieve compaction and also work the sand into the profile.

This will assist drainage and root development for the next racing season, the seeding begins with 200 kg per acre of perennial rye grass called Banquette.

It is then general maintenance thereafter, and nature will be the deciding factor.

Moonee Valley