Improving Safety at Racecourses

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing comment on their new crossing whilst Craig Williams discusses the installation of a crossing at the Ballarat Turf Club.

Latest ECA Crossing Customers

ATR - ECA Crossings

Auckland Thoroughbred Racing Ellerslie has added one of the last pieces planned for its new track, with the move welcomed by jockeys.

A new surface has been installed for the crossing on the bend heading out of the straight, one designed to provide greater consistency between the StrathAyr course proper and the crossing area needed for access to the inside of the track.

The new crossing surface should feel similar to a Good 4 range track, whereas the older one was firmer and the difference between it and the racetrack was more noticeable to horses.

The newer surface creates a smoother, more uniform footing for horses and reduces the risk of slips or hesitation.

Ballarat Turf Club

Installed the new ECA Rebound Safety Crossing which has been a complete game changer for our Club.

It has lowered the time I spend preparing a crossover for race day and better still there is no clean up afterwards.

We have had many Jockeys comment on how well the horses have travelled and how safe they felt over the crossing.

Nick Stubbs
Racecourse Manager

Victorian Racing Club - Flemington

We hold weekly jump outs over the crossing and have received excellent feedback from our Trainers and Jockey’s.

Our maintenance on the crossing is very little as the crossing provides constant cushion eliminating the need to soften the surface for our jump outs.

I could not be happier with the ECA Rebound Safety Crossing.

Liam O’Keefe
Senior Manager
Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne Racing Club - Sandown

The endorsement from the Melbourne Racing Club further underscores the significance of this innovation in addressing long-standing concerns within the industry.

By prioritising safety and welfare, initiatives like the ECA Safety Rebound Crossings contribute to creating a safer and more sustainable environment for all involved in horse racing. This positive feedback and recommendation are promising indicators of the potential for widespread adoption of similar technologies across racecourses.

Jason Kerr
General Manager
Melbourne Racing Club

TASRacing - Elwick Park Glenorchy

Elwick Park Crossing

Flemington Racecourse - Gallop Track

“It’s a synthetic surface made up of sand and emulsions, which is an oily, wax type material that binds the material together. There are some fibres in that sand that soften the footing,” O’Keeffe said.

High-quality sand sourced from a You Yangs quarry is used, which is another one of the improvements.

“It’s a beautifully coloured sand and it will give a nice cushiony surface for the horses to gallop on.”

Liam O’Keefe
Senior Manager
Flemington Racecourse

Lindsay Park Racing Stable - Gallop Track

Lindsay Park Gallop Track

ECA Crossing Profile

Synthetic Tracks

Backed by expertise, our company’s owners have successfully installed numerous synthetic tracks using an advanced polymeric binding system that blends fibers.

Superior track performance: consistent, resilient, and completely water-free.

Rebound Safety Mats

With extensive experience in the racing industry, Gallop Track & Equine Crossings Australia has developed innovative surfaces, drainage profiles, rebound safety mat systems that transform the construction of training facilities and race course crossings..

Crossover Installation

Can be installed in a matter of days with some installations being ready for use after 4 days. We coordinate with operations to conduct an installation with minimal impact to ongoing training and racing activities. The Crossover is ready for use as soon as it completed.

Existing

Remove

Level and Pack

Rock Base

Geo Hex Drainage

Rebound Safety

Profile

Spread

Compact

Colour Profile

Complete

No Irrigation
System Required

Immediate Use
After Installation

Supports Optimal Track Performance

Protect Horse
Limbs and Health

All-Season Training
and Racing

GroundScience Independent Testing

Tests Conducted
Ernie Gmehling from GroundScience conducted tests between 2022 and 2023 onsite at racecourses such as Flemington. The summary below highlights some of the key points for more information refer to the technical documents.

Drainage:
The crossings allowed for the movement of water drainage at an average of 15,000 mm/hr

Load Bearing:
Under simulation of up to 40 tonne vehicles using the safety matt there was a temporary deformation of between 3% to 5% with the matt rebounding back to its almost original shape.

Stiffness/Hardness:

Conducted at Flemington in June 2023. Testing of the crossing surface against the course proper showed that they had similar hardness around 4.0 to 5.0 whilst the ambulance Crossing had a reading of 47.3

Overall the course of a 12 month period the surface has not changed and that the feedback as that the crossing has required lower maintenance and safer experience for the users of the crossing.

Improving Safety at Racecourses