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Reports are that ARC are considering relaying the track at Southwell with a fair few trainers already giving an opinion ranging from changing it to a dirt track, to Tapeta/Polytrack or keeping it as it is.
Mick Appleby, a frequent winner at the course over the years, has called on it to become a dirt track and I agree with his viewpoint. We know that the majority of all weather contests are bang average contests (that’s being generous) but there are good races spread across the winter season and there are opportunities to see a future star in certain events, Enable at Newcastle is probably the best example of this.
Southwell doesn’t really have a lot going for it though with class 2 contests few and far between. I personally am not a fan of the track, I don’t ever have a bet and I rarely even check the cards. I know it has its fans though (Mein Vater for one) and I know he wouldn’t want to see it change but a dirt track similar to what they use in the US of A could really set up some good contests which could lead to connections aiming horses at the breeders cup/Dubai Carnival.
I don’t see the point of it being turned into a Tapeta/polytrack though, the recent arrivals of Chelmsford and Newcastle serve their purpose and even with the threat of Kempton closing, Lingfield and Wolverhampton would cope just fine with taking on any races with the aforementioned tracks. I’m not here to slate Southwell, I understand why it has its fans and it is unique. If they are to re-lay the surface then I’d like to see them try a dirt based course. On the other hand, I’d prefer them to keep it as is rather than change to Poly/Tap.
Personally, I don’t bet how it is now. I find it far too difficult as it’s a lottery. The lack of consistency for horses on the surface makes it hard. Too hard for me.
Now, your idea about making it a dirt track like in the USA is quite interesting and, if marketed right, could be a gamechanger for the track.
They could have some really decent evening cards with some good horses trying it out before being aimed at Dubai or the big races in the states. Surely that’s a better use of a track than the current class 5/6 stuff that only a handful of horses are capable of running well on.
I’m in the minority who likes Southwell, at least from a selfish perspective. It’s quite a good punting medium.
Still, I can fully understand why some people aren’t in love with it. Visually it isn’t the most edifying spectacle with such high kickback and most horses in behind the leaders noticeably uncomfortable with the spray.
Dirt could be a good option, especially if they can invest some decent prize money. There are plenty of US-bred horses knocking about in this country and a dirt surface certainly wouldn’t go unsupported, would have plenty of relevance on the world stage too.
Not a fan of AW racing if I am honest but the thought of them going to dirt makes less than zero appeal – US dirt racing to me is a dire spectacle and should be the last thing ARC should be considering putting in, it was the wrong thing to do at Meydan and would not be right here either.
Yes the surface needs changing to something with much less kickback (Tapeta/Polytrack) and if ARC are flush enough to consider making changes then maybe after making the track more horse friendly (especially to those hold up horses who must be inhaling a significant amount of the current surface) they then might also want to increase the prize money on offer as an incentive to encourage better horses to turn up.
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