Racecourse managers turn to Tetraploid grass varieties to help with their particular conditions

When considering grass seed cultivars or mixtures, Horse racing provides a unique set of challenges. In contrast to golf and football, where fineness of leaf are top of the list, racecourse managers will require mixtures that offer fast establishment, greater density, good wear tolerance and rapid recovery. DLF’s Northern Regional Technical Manager John Hughes looks at the recent development in ryegrass technology and how tetraploids are becoming the number one choice for the renovation and repair of natural and hybrid grass surfaces.

Perennial ryegrasses for amenity use are historically diploid meaning each cell contains two paired sets of chromosomes. Tetraploids, taken from the Greek Tetra meaning four, instead have four paired sets, doubling the number of chromosomes per cell compared with the diploid varieties. This means the seed is physically larger in size, and with this comes more energy reserves for a stronger, faster establishment. These qualities also mean that performance of tetraploids at lower temperatures is also stronger, making them a popular choice for autumn and winter overseeding.

The benefits of tetraploids are also ensured throughout the year, not just through the winter period, with the larger root system and natural water reserves meaning the plant is significantly more drought-tolerant than diploids. Increased chloroplast and chlorophyll production also means improved nitrogen efficiency and a deeper colour throughout the seasons. The species is a highly suitable mixture partner for sports turf thanks to its capability to deliver under a range of conditions.

Whilst maintaining a strong, healthy and dense sward over a wet winter period is a headache for any Turf Manager, for Head Groundsman at Warwick Racecourse Guy Woodward, that challenge is further exacerbated by the impact of horses pounding the flats and taking the jumps. For Guy to achieve any germination and recovery, he needs a seed mixture that can perform under some of the most challenging growing conditions. Guy has turned to new tetraploid technology in the Masterline ProMaster 79 mixture, to deliver just that.

Since the decision was made in 2014 to covert to an all-jumps race programme, Warwick Racecourse has established itself as one of the leading, small National Hunt racing courses. “Our season runs from the end of September to the end of May, with fixtures right through the winter” explains Guy who heads up a grounds team of four. “In a normal season we will backfill with a combination of soil and seed after every meet, as well as moving the hurdles to give the horses fresh ground and helping us spread the wear and maintain coverage.”

“When it comes to making my decision on seed mixtures, the key criteria is a seed that can germinate late and early in the year. I spoke with Ian Barnett of DLF Seeds and they recommended the ProMaster 79 mixture from Masterline.” PM79 contains 50% Double 4Turf tetraploid ryegrass, in combination with 20% Platinum and 30% Esquire diploid ryegrass to offer germination through the tough winter period. “Though we don’t expect to achieve masses of growth over the winter, if we overseed whilst carrying out our post-meet repairs means we know the seed is there when the time is right, and if we do get any peaks in temperature, we may get some growth.”

Last year, conditions saw Guy mowing into November. However after this, months of rainfall have left areas of the course badly waterlogged, culminating in the cancellation of a meet in April. “We’d been racing on heavy ground for most of the winter, but dealing with the amount of rainfall we’ve had in recent months has been a struggle for us.”

With the slightly warmer temperatures now starting to creep in, the PM79 mixture is once again working well. “We’re getting the germination I look for and all of the overseeding we’ve done through the winter is now starting to show on the racing lines. It’s thanks to DLF that we seem to have a mixture that’s working for us and our requirements, helping to maintain strong coverage even when mother nature does her best to stop us!”

“Now the grass is growing the temptation is to get out there and start cutting, but with waterlogging still an issue in some areas, we are just having to be patient.” When the season is complete, Guy will take the course down to 1.5 or 2” and let the surface dry out through the summer months. “We really want to achieve natural cracking, but to assist we’ll carry on spiking before we consider watering and feeding again towards the end of August. A slow release fertiliser gives us a good start to the season and helps the turf look good through the winter. When you know you’re not going to get masses of growth, even with the best seed mixtures available, it’s all about keeping the plants you have got as healthy as you can.”