York Racecourse

York wins third prestigious national award

21st January 2010

York Racecourse is delighted that the team has won a third prestigious national award, the Neil Wyatt Groundstaff Award.

This is the first time York Racecourse have won the award, organised by the Racecourse Association and sponsored for the first time by leading turf sports magazine, Pitchcare.  It follows on from York being awarded “Racecourse of the Year 2009” by the Racehorse Owners Association and being voted as the favourite flat course of the members of the Racegoers Club.

The Neil Wyatt Award is judged by a panel of turf industry experts from the National Trainers Federation, Professional Jockeys Association and British Horseracing Authority’s Racecourse Inspectorate.  The challenging assessment criteria included the condition and presentation of the racing surface, innovation and improvements in turf husbandry and the way in which the grounds team are managed, motivated and developed.

William Derby, Clerk of the Course and Chief Executive at York, said, “I am truly delighted for our hard working team here at the Knavesmire and we are honoured to be recognised with such a prestigious award.  Led by Adrian Kay, our Head Groundsman, the team have not only completed one of the largest track projects seen on a British Racecourse, they have learnt new skills, mastered new pieces of equipment and put in that extra effort to deliver a racing surface that witnessed some extraordinary performances from horses and jockeys last year.  They deserve great credit and we are very proud.”

William Derby continued: “Throughout the trackworks project we received great support from trainers, jockeys, our contractors and our turf consultant.  This award is a tribute to a large number of people who have invested their time, expertise and effort in developing the racing surface at York and I would like to thank and pay tribute to them.”
           
Dale Gibson, a winning rider at York’s last meeting and now working with the Professional Jockeys Association, was one of the judges and he said, “York Racecourse had an outstanding season in 2009 and thoroughly deserved the award for the consistency of racing ground following their massive drainage work over last winter and spring.  The whole team worked together.”

Rupert Arnold from the National Trainers Federation commented "There was particularly strong competition in the Flat- section with several courses deserving winners in any other year but York was outstanding.  The commitment of groundstaff to high standards around British racecourses is commendable."

Richard Linley, Senior BHA Inspector of Courses, said "It is encouraging that each year it gets more difficult to select winners.”

Included in the entry submitted by York were a number of positive endorsements from leading trainers and jockeys, such as Sir Michael Stoute who said “I would like to go on record and say that Adrian Kay and his team have done a magnificent job at York.  I was delighted with the surface that was produced for us and the options for rail movement and fresh ground.  It is exciting for the future.  Adrian and the other members of the team have been most helpful.”

Commenting on the interaction between the contractors and the Racecourse team, Steve Southward, Trackworks Project Manager from contractors, J Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd, said “We work with groundstaff from championship golf courses and Premier League football grounds and I can safely say that none were as keen as the York team.  They were with us every step of the way, sharing their local knowledge and seeking to get every last bit of benefit out of our experience combined with their investment.”     

The awards are in their fourteenth year and the recognition for York creates a little bit of history because although this is the first time that York has received this particular accolade, one member of the team already knows the winning feeling.  Head Groundsman, Adrian Kay, lifted the Best Jumps Course title back in 2005 when he worked at Aintree so he becomes the first Head Groundsman to have both a Best Flat and Best Jumps Award.

As well as a trophy, the team wins £2,200 which will be used to buy new equipment and to celebrate the success.

William Derby concluded “The positive comments we received last year and from the judges have strengthened the resolve of the team to keep on improving in the season ahead.  We can’t wait to see the horses back in action over our ground on Wednesday May 12th.”

Social Bookmarks