What is go on about vaal sand?

but yes...even though I joke....it's a poor show...(td)

are our tracks around the country becoming a punters nightmare?

Flash Harry Wrote:

---

> let us put these another way. imagine you go to
> the casino and you find out after you loose your
> money on roulette that the table has the
> "adjustments" to favour one side and you never now
> these when you have the bet.........

I always thought that it was always like that

chicken 'n chips Wrote:

---

> Flash Harry Wrote:
>

---

>

---

> > let us put these another way. imagine you go to
> > the casino and you find out after you loose
> your
> > money on roulette that the table has the
> > "adjustments" to favour one side and you never
> now
> > these when you have the bet.........
>
>
> or if you paid your good money at a brothel and
> only to find out later that she used to be a boy


still better than....


she's still a boy...:

I'm sure LG informed us in a post a while ago, that the 'compactor' is used before the first race on the whole track - but that there is not enough time to do this between races - so only the inside 'lane' is being compacted between races; if I remember correctly he said that another 'compactor' was on order so that the whole track could be 'treated' by the 'compactors' between races

Frodo Wrote:

---

> I'm sure LG informed us in a post a while ago,
> that the 'compactor' is used before the first race
> on the whole track - but that there is not enough
> time to do this between races - so only the inside
> 'lane' is being compacted between races; if I
> remember correctly he said that another
> 'compactor' was on order so that the whole track
> could be 'treated' by the 'compactors' between
> races


you got a good memory.... but bloody hell talk about an unfair advantage....: ...

Frodo Wrote:

---

> I'm sure LG informed us in a post a while ago,
> that the 'compactor' is used before the first race
> on the whole track - but that there is not enough
> time to do this between races - so only the inside
> 'lane' is being compacted between races; if I
> remember correctly he said that another
> 'compactor' was on order so that the whole track
> could be 'treated' by the 'compactors' between
> races

Frodo may be you are right. Let me ask if some one complain to gambling board about unfair raceing condition will the operator be in trouble? they are allow bet to happen when they prepare the obviously bias track that they do. i now draws are all ways importany but hear is worse than any where else even durbanville

gregbucks Wrote:

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> are our tracks around the country becoming a
> punters nightmare?


Not sure about that Greg , surely punters can use the draw at The Vaal and Flumpingo etc

i guess you right hibs...

gregbucks Wrote:

---

> Frodo Wrote:
>

---

>

---

> > I'm sure LG informed us in a post a while ago,
> > that the 'compactor' is used before the first
> race
> > on the whole track - but that there is not
> enough
> > time to do this between races - so only the
> inside
> > 'lane' is being compacted between races; if I
> > remember correctly he said that another
> > 'compactor' was on order so that the whole
> track
> > could be 'treated' by the 'compactors' between
> > races
>
>
> you got a good memory.... but bloody hell talk
> about an unfair advantage....: ...


you got a good memory remembering what he remembered....()

Frodo...the Joburg Wizard....(tu)

louisg
Re: Vaal 12/12/13
December 12, 2013 10:02AM Registered: 3 years ago
Posts: 601
Frodo, the "standard" term stems from the actual water content of the surface which is heavily irrigated to saturation and compression points.

The surface can only take so much water and the rest then drains off. At certain points where drainage is slower, problems occur during rainfall. The track is then compressed with rollers after rain.

The "standard racing surface is a combo of three parts, a trichotomy of sorts, 1) Sand 2) a small percentage of fines - very fine sand for binding purposes and 3) water which is the catylist. So, in basic terms, we race on sand which is bound by fines, such binding being activated by water. Once the surface is fully watered, we have the standard racing surface. Only if too little water is applied, will the going be anything other than standard. Watering to the point of runoff will always result in the standard going. Its that simple and difficult to get wrong.

One of the problems which occurs on a raceday is that the going for the first race is perfect but then it loosens throughout the day. This is because the track packer prepares the whole surface for race one and then cannot do the whole width of the surface in between races, as it would take about 90 minutes. Solution = buy more track packers. This has been done, at huge expense and we now await delivery, very soon, early Jan, as soon as overseas made parts arrive.

One of the other problems has been drainage and levels. In the straight we have a camber or drop of 300mm from the outside rail to the inside for runoff and 400mm on the bend, as runners are leaning through the turn. Over the past few years, the maintenance has been nonchalant in this regard and standards have dropped. This has resulted in slower drainage and even certain concave areas where excess water lies on the track instead of draining off. Drainage will make or break us, in terms of losing a meeting or not.

At a stage a few months back, drainage was taking about 12 hours in between last rain and runoff completion. Some butt has been kicked and we are down to about 7 or 8 hours now. This must be reduced to the optimum 3 hours, which is how, why and because of which the track was implemented in the first place.

Also, if properly compacted between races, runoff will be fast and water will not go in, but rather off the surface.

I can assure you that Patrick Davis is taking this very seriously and huge efforts are being made. This track will be back to its absolute best within a month or two.

and E....he's got a gooder memory....(tu)