Polytrack is a high-performance synthetic horse racing surface
engineered for consistency, safety, and all-weather reliability. Widely adopted by over 20 racecourses and 300km of training tracks globally, it is designed to replicate the root structure of ideal turf while remaining functional in extreme weather. Core Composition
Polytrack is a proprietary blend of materials designed to provide a stable, cushioned base: Washed Silica Sand:
Forms the primary stable base, industrially washed to ensure consistent compaction and drainage. Recycled Materials:
Includes polypropylene fibers, rubber (often from recycled tires), and carpet fibers to reinforce the structure. Equestrian-Grade Wax:
A moisture-controlling coating that binds the materials together, eliminating dust and the need for irrigation. Key Benefits Weather Resilience:
Unlike dirt or turf, Polytrack remains consistent through heavy rain, snow, or extreme heat. It maintains its "going" without becoming sloppy or frozen, preventing cancelled race meetings. Enhanced Safety: Studies indicate up to a 50% reduction in horse injuries
compared to dirt tracks. The surface provides excellent shock absorption, reducing impact stress on a horse's legs. Predictable Performance:
The wax coating provides secure footing and full traction, which improves horse confidence and performance. Low Maintenance:
It requires no irrigation systems and is virtually dust-free, making it an environmentally friendly option for large-scale facilities. Global Usage
The surface is a staple of "All-Weather" (AW) racing, particularly in the UK and Australia: United Kingdom: Used at major tracks like Kempton Park Lingfield Park Chelmsford City Australia: Prominent at Flemington Royal Randwick for elite training. Features at Dundalk Stadium , the country's only all-weather course. Performance vs. Competition While Polytrack is highly popular, it is often compared to , another synthetic surface. Polytrack is known for having minimal kickback
, making it one of the "fairest" surfaces for horses regardless of their running style. However, it can require periodic replenishment of fibers and wax to maintain its temperature-sensitive properties. for synthetic tracks or see a list of upcoming races scheduled on Polytrack surfaces? gplus polytrack
GPlus Polytrack (often stylized as G+ Polytrack) is a high-performance synthetic racing surface developed by Martin Collins Equine Surfaces. It represents an evolution of the original Polytrack technology, designed to provide "all-weather" consistency and superior safety for horse racing and training. Core Composition
The surface is a proprietary, engineered blend of materials layered to mimic the root structure and "give" of natural turf while remaining usable year-round:
Silica Sand: Carefully graded, industrial-washed sand forms the stable base.
Synthetic Fibers: Polypropylene or polyester fibers reinforce the structure and add stability.
Recycled Materials: Includes a mix of rubber and recycled carpet or spandex for shock absorption.
Equestrian-Grade Wax: A specialized wax coating binds the mixture, making it moisture-resistant and virtually dust-free. Key Performance Features
All-Weather Reliability: Unlike dirt or turf, Polytrack does not become "sloppy" in rain or hard-packed in heat. It maintains consistent "going" across extreme temperature ranges.
Vertical Drainage: Engineered with multiple layers—including a semi-permeable macadam base and drainage pipes—it allows water to move vertically through the surface to prevent pooling.
Safety & Injury Reduction: Statistical data from the Equine Injury Database indicates that synthetic surfaces like Polytrack can have up to 50% fewer injuries than dirt tracks. In 2022, synthetic tracks recorded 0.41 fatal injuries per 1,000 starts, compared to 1.44 on dirt.
No Kickback: The surface eliminates the "kickback" of dirt or mud into the faces of trailing horses and jockeys, similar to racing on grass. Layered Architecture
A professional GPlus Polytrack installation typically involves a complex "sandwich" of materials: Zero rain delays: Play can resume the moment the rain stops
Top Layer (4–6 inches): The proprietary wax-coated sand/fiber/rubber blend.
Macadam Layer: Crushed stone bound with asphalt/tar to provide structural stability while remaining semi-permeable.
Loose Gravel/Crushed Rock: Acts as a filter and facilitates rapid drainage.
Foundation Drainage: Perforated pipes embedded in gravel to channel water away from the track. Global Adoption
Polytrack is used at premier international venues and training centers, including:
United Kingdom: Kempton Park, Chelmsford City, and Lingfield Park. Australia: Royal Randwick and Flemington Racecourse.
North America: Historically used at Keeneland and currently used at Turfway Park and Woodbine.
Polytrack® and Other Synthetic Footing for Horse Racetracks
Polytrack® and Other Synthetic Footing for Horse Racetracks: Types and Safety Considerations. Written by: Camryn McNeill, B.B.R.M. Mad Barn Equine
Polytrack® and Other Synthetic Footing for Horse Racetracks
One professional strategy involves bettors looking for Gplus Polytrack pairs in the same race. not to support the fibers.
Identify two horses whose last three Polytrack Gplus figures average within 2 points of each other (e.g., Horse A average 62.5, Horse B average 63.0). If their morning line odds are both above 6/1, you have found a "correlated exacta."
Because Polytrack produces fewer shock results than turf, the top two Gplus horses finish in the money over 65% of the time (according to a 2022 sample of 1,200 Polytrack races).
Standard synthetic turf typically drains at a rate of 30 to 50 inches per hour. After a torrential downpour, this often leads to 10–15 minutes of "puddle time" while the backing slowly filters water through the compacted infill. GPlus Polytrack flips this model on its head.
Because the backing is mechanically perforated rather than relying on textile permeability, water physically falls through the backing into the aggregate base below. Drainage rates typically exceed 250 inches per hour (tested per ASTM D4716). For a facility manager, this means:
GPlus aims to provide a "fair" surface. Unlike turf, which can degrade throughout a race day, or dirt, which can change speed based on moisture content, GPlus Polytrack maintains a consistent racing profile from the first race to the last.
A dirt track can be "fixed" with a harrow and a water truck in 20 minutes. Gplus Polytrack requires daily science experiments.
Gplus Polytrack represents the latest evolution of the original Polytrack synthetic surface, developed by Martin Collins Racing (now part of the Ecotrack group under Racecourse Management Services). Designed to address limitations of earlier synthetic tracks (e.g., cushion depth variability, drainage issues, and false favoritism of front-runners), Gplus introduces advanced polymer coating, fiber technology, and a consistent wax layer. The surface aims to provide superior safety, durability, and uniformity across all weather conditions.
Even experienced punters misuse these figures. Avoid these three traps:
Mistake #1: Comparing Gplus Across Different Surfaces You cannot compare a Gplus dirt figure to a Gplus Polytrack figure. They are calculated using different pace pars. Always filter your data to "Polytrack only."
Mistake #2: Ignoring the "First-Time Poly" Factor A horse running on Polytrack for the first time will have a Gplus rating based on workout times. These are notoriously unreliable. Unless the horse is trained by a high-percentage synthetic trainer (e.g., Brendan Walsh or Wesley Ward on the synthetics), fade horses with a "—" or "N/A" in the Gplus Polytrack column.
Mistake #3: Overvaluing Blowout Wins If a horse wins on Polytrack by 10 lengths with a Gplus of 85, be cautious. That was an outlier performance. Unless the horse repeats the Gplus figure within 45 days, it is likely to regress.
Unlike traditional dirt (a mix of sand, silt, and clay) or turf (living grass), Gplus Polytrack is a engineered composite. It typically consists of three key layers:
You cannot simply roll out GPlus Polytrack onto dirt. The drainage holes are useless without a void beneath them. A professional installation follows this protocol: