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I believe Bath usually put water on because the course drains very well and the ground can get very hard, even during an unusually wet summer.
It should still be pretty quick there today. We’ll know much better after a few races.
Thanks, I thought because of the elevation of the racecourse it wasn’t possible to install a watering system there?
I’m not sure about that, you may be right.
I think I read somewhere that they collect rainwater themselves and use that, but that would be no good if it was a very dry summer.
Somebody on here(a Bath regular or THE bath regular) will know.
I’m sure this must be a mistake. It has been reported many times that watering is not possible at Bath.
They say that at Exeter also, but it had definetly been watered the day I was down there a few months ago.
The going for today, as listed on their web-site is: Firm – Stick Reading 11.3
http://www.bath-racecourse.co.uk/racing/going.asp
As far as I know Bath has no watering system. The above website is pretty good at updating the going forecasts in the week prior to racing.
Just checked the BHB admin site – same as above, updated 11.32am 9 September.
The reading in the original post is exactly as for Folkestone, so probs just a mix up.A Colin Mumford produced a 318 page thesis in December 2006 on racecourse watering:
https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/bits … s+2006.pdf
page 82:
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Two racecourses (Bath and Taunton) stated that they do not use irrigation.
Bath racecourse is located in agroclimatic zone four and holds flat racing, which is carried out in the summer; therefore it is surprising that it does not use irrigation.
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best regards
wit
wit, thank you. This will keep me occupied for a few days on my holidays! You always seem to come up with excellent reference material.
They say that at Exeter also, but it had definetly been watered the day I was down there a few months ago.
Don’t they just water the hurdle course at Exeter using a bowser?
I’d guess the elevation, as at Bath, would rule out mains watering due to pressure problems.
Taunton have used a bowser occasionally for their early season fixtures.
I walked the chase course there at about 1pm on a really hot, sunny day (going officially firm). They reckon that I came back soaked up to my knees because of ‘dew’.
My guess is that they would then be expected to do it all the time, and it is obviously a hard task due to location!
The ground was firm, but no jar/falseness.Bath racecourse sits on top of a hundred feet or so of limestone, which makes watering a bit pointless.
It is interesting to note that even with firm going Bath attracted some decent sized fields today (as well as a couple of cracking finishes) …. makes you wonder why there is such a rush to water courses all the time and have this seming obsession for good ground all the time?
Clearly there are some horses and trainers who want the firm ground.
Apart from periods of extreme hot weather, why water on the flat?
Learn from Warwick last week, live with nature and lets have horses for courses.
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