Port Macquarie Racetrack Course
Ensuring turf quality through Field of Play Assessment
New South Wales

The reconstruction of the natural turf course presented unique challenges.

A major focus was ensuring the new turf system complied with Global Turf’s technical specifications while accommodating the specific requirements of horse racing.

Precise monitoring and quality control were essential to meet strict performance and safety standards.

Collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including Evergreen Turf and project consultants, required clear communication and seamless coordination.

Addressing potential deviations from the specifications and providing technical guidance was also critical to the project’s success.

SPORTENG’s Field of Play team adopted a thorough and collaborative approach to deliver exceptional results. The team began by reviewing Global Turf’s technical specifications and Evergreen Turf’s design profile, which included assessments of rootzone sand and soil amendments. Quality Assurance tables were developed to monitor testing outcomes, with clearly defined acceptable variation ranges to maintain standards.

Weekly design meetings with key stakeholders ensured alignment and provided opportunities to address any emerging challenges. SPORTENG offered technical guidance to resolve deviations from the specifications while maintaining project objectives. Throughout the project, construction-related agronomy queries were addressed promptly, and hold-point documentation, such as sand sample reviews and as-built surveys, was rigorously evaluated.

In addition to these core tasks, SPORTENG conducted witness point inspections to verify compliance during construction and attended defects liability inspections at the project’s completion. A final letter of compliance was issued, based on witnessed site inspections, to confirm the project’s adherence to design and quality expectations.

SPORTENG’s involvement at the Port Macquarie Racetrack ensured that the reconstruction of the course adhered to high-quality standards.

The natural turf surface meets the rigorous demands of horse racing, providing a safe and reliable environment for both horses and jockeys.

Stakeholders benefited from clear and consistent communication throughout the project, fostering confidence in the final outcome.

The collaboration between SPORTENG, Evergreen Turf, and other partners exemplifies the value of expert technical support in achieving outstanding results.

The Port Macquarie Racetrack project highlights SPORTENG’s capability to deliver specialised agronomy services for complex turf projects. Through meticulous planning, rigorous quality control, and effective collaboration, SPORTENG ensured the success of this vital reconstruction, setting a benchmark for future natural turf projects in the horse racing industry.