Operational temperatures of all-weather thoroughbred racetracks influence surface functional properties

Northrop, AJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4339-1211, Martin, JH ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7560-7611, Holt, D and Hobbs, SJ, 2020. Operational temperatures of all-weather thoroughbred racetracks influence surface functional properties. Biosystems Engineering, 193, pp. 37-45. ISSN 1537-5110

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Abstract

The surface temperature of all-weather racetracks has previously been correlated to speed. However specific functional properties such as grip, cushioning and impact firmness have not been directly compared to environmental conditions. The objective of this study was to assess how temperature influences functional properties of racetracks, and categorise surface wax binders according to first thermal transition peak, and compare responses at different operational temperatures. Functional properties were determined for UK all-weather racetrack surfaces (n = 6) using mechanical testing equipment which assess the loads experienced by the forelimb at gallop (randomised block design). Tests were carried out using latex lined moulds, embedded within a test box with a predefined boundary at 0 °C, 20 °C and 40 °C. Wax binders underwent differential scanning calorimetry to identify thermal transition peaks. Changes in operational temperatures significantly influenced surface responses when a wax binder was part of the composition. Temperature was a factor that significantly contributed to the variation found in horizontal grip (F2, 237 = 65.69, P < 0.001), cushioning (F2, 237 = 58.24, P < 0.001), impact firmness (F2, 237 = 28.02, P < 0.001) and rotational grip (F12, 65 = 9.45, P < 0.001). Using a test box meant individual racetracks were generalised but this enabled conditions to be controlled. Colder temperatures demonstrated higher surface hardness and shear resistance that may increase risk of musculoskeletal injury although this was not measured here. Awareness of the effect temperature has on specific track behaviour allows maintenance protocols to be further developed to improve consistency when temperatures change, with the aim of improving safety.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Biosystems Engineering
Creators:	Northrop, A.J., Martin, J.H., Holt, D. and Hobbs, S.J.
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date:	May 2020
Volume:	193
ISSN:	1537-5110
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2020.02.003 DOI S153751102030043X Publisher Item Identifier 1318749 Other
Divisions:	Schools > School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	28 Apr 2020 12:04
Last Modified:	31 May 2021 15:06
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/39752

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