polytrack

Now in its second year, the Polytrack Challenge, sponsored by Martin Collins, will continue during the French all-weather season, but with a couple of rule modifications, France Galop announced on Tuesday. The two race categories remain unchanged, the sprint/mile division and the intermediate/Classic division will each offer the €40,000 to the winners at the end of the season, with the finals at Cagnes-sur-Mer. The points scale will be as follows for the Prix Irish River (Nov. 3), Prix Luthier (Dec. 4), Prix Lyphard (Nov. 26) and Prix Arcangues (Dec. 19):...

June was the warmest month on record-the twelfth consecutive month of record global temperatures. Climate change is hitting all walks of life. Horse racing, too. Last year, unusually hot temperatures coupled with unusually little rain fueled huge wildfires in Canada, impacting air quality and causing the cancellation of racing and training in both Canada and New York. Just last month, New Mexico's Ruidoso Downs narrowly avoided a wildfire that tore through the area. The track hasn't been so lucky in the aftermath, thanks to frequent flash flooding leading to the...

Martin Collins, the manufacturer of Polytrack (PSF) all-weather racing surfaces from the Martin Collins Group, has been named the new sponsor of the "Polytrack Challenge" for a period of three years until 2026, France Galop announced on Thursday. Held on fibresand, the "Polytrack Challenge" was presented by France Galop and the Cote d'Azur Racing Association on Oct. 10. The first even in the contest is scheduled for Deauville Racecourse on Sunday, Nov. 5. The two finals in the Intermediate/Classic category and the Speed/Mile category will beheld on Jan. 27 and...

Ajay Anne has taken on a new role as the managing director of German-based Eurofip International, better known in the racing world as the owner of Martin Collins Enterprises, which produces the Polytrack all-weather surface. Anne will also continue to run his own New Approach Bloodstock business.  Owned by the Mulliez family's Altya Investments, Eurofip International is based out of Equss Castle, near Cologne. Anne, a graduate of the 2006 Godolphin Flying Start course, will remain in Dubai, where he has been based since the completion of a four-year stint...

The All-Weather Championships Finals Day will be held at Newcastle for the first time on Good Friday, Apr. 15, 2022. Started by the Arena Racing Company in 2013, the All-Weather Championships are now in its ninth season which begins on Tuesday, Oct. 19. There are six All-Weather Championships races, and the Listed Coral Burradon S. carded for Good Friday with total prizemoney on offer over £1 million. Lingfield, which previously hosted the meeting, will instead hold the new £395,000 All-Weather Vase that same day. The All-Weather Vase card, featuring six...

Although he stopped short of saying that a surface change at Charles Town Races might soon be mandated by state racing regulators, West Virginia Racing Commission (WVRC) chairman Ken Lowe Jr. made it clear during Tuesday's meeting that he will be advocating for a synthetic surface to replace the traditional dirt that comprises the track's six-furlong oval. Lowe's Apr. 20 comments came against the backdrop of 11 equine fatalities at Charles Town so far in 2021. The track is closed for racing Wednesday through Saturday this week to perform maintenance...

Bath's June 11th fixture has been transferred to Lingfield Park, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. The move is due to the recent sustained dry weather and the fact that Bath cannot have an irrigation system. Originally an evening fixture, the eight-race card will remain in that time slot and be conducted over the all-weather track. The race programme will be equivalent to the original Bath card and full details are available at www.racingadmin.co.uk. "Since the publication of the new fixture list, we simply haven't seen the rainfall at...