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Saudi Cup
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SPECIAL REPORT
SUPER-FAST FINISH
STRI Group has completed one of the most ambitious projects in its 90-year history – a turf racetrack in the challenging terrain and climate of Saudi Arabia
The track was seeded last November, and had to be ready for the Saudi Cup on 29 February this year
By Richard Stuttard, STRI head of consultancy
As part of his vision to make Saudi Arabia a venue for world-class horse racing on turf, His Excellency Prince
Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club ofSaudi Arabia, enlisted STRI to deliver a new and elite track for the inaugural running of the world’s richest horse racing event, the Saudi Cup. As the principal contractor for the engineering and construction of the track at The King Abdulaziz Racecourse, STRI was commissioned to provide an end-to-end design, build and operate solution – and it had to do it in just six months.
Engineering such a track, using the finest materials available, required input by STRI experts in drainage, irrigation, construction, materials analysis and biomechanics. And while the primary constituents are relatively few in number, their type and amounts are critical.
STARTING POINT The first step was to understand the site’s baseline environment, including a review of its climatic conditions. An extensive materials selection regime was then undertaken, taking a range of sands and gravels from around the Kingdom and testing them for compatibility to create a suitably firm surface. This rootzone, once mixed with stabilising fibres, provided the medium within which to install the grass surface.
“I don’t think you’ll walk on a more consistent racing surface anywhere in the world”
BUILDING THE TRACK
Construction of the new perennial ryegrass track – which took the place of a training dirt track inside the existing racing dirt track – was based on 250mm of rootzone over 110mm of gravel (2mm-6mm); with the upper 150mm of rootzone amended with StaLock fibres and 15% peat, and the lower 100mm of rootzone being 5% of 0.125mm-0.5mm sand. The root depth was up to 160mm; main root mass was 75mm.
The construction process was rapid and extensive resources were drafted in (via the Gulf Co-operation Council – a regional inter-governmental political and economic union consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) to excavate the existing track material and install the new. Timing was critical; the earth movement work had to be completed at breakneck speed to enable sowing of the grass when temperatures were optimal. The track was seeded in November; the Saudi Cup was held on 29 February 2020.
THE RIGHT GRASS To meet the needs of a winter race in Saudi Arabia, the track was established with a cool season grass species – a type usually found in more temperate climates. This grass thrives in the winter climate of Saudi Arabia and, when combined with a special blend of stabilising fibres incorporated into the mix, provides a surface which not only performs exceptionally well but also looks stunning.
Thereafter, a daily bespoke maintenance regime was developed to ensure the correct levels of water and fertiliser were applied to maximise sward establishment. Deep rooting was critical to develop a grass surface that not only looked good but also held together under the stresses created by horses.
Commenting, Newmarket’s head of racing, Michael Prosser, who was part of the Saudi Cup project as clerk of the course, said: “What has been achieved in a short period of time is staggering. The detail and the attention that STRI has gone to is phenomenal. This track is unbelievably consistent; I don’t think you’ll walk on a more consistent racing surface anywhere in the world… It’s some achievement.”
The final word is with His Excellency Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal: “I’m very happy, although I’m not surprised. We engaged some of the best people in the world to design and work on the track. They said they would deliver and they have. STRI has done an amazing job.”
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