New Warren Hill walkback warmly welcomed by trainers and staff

Trainers and stable staff in Newmarket this weekend welcomed the re-opening of the newly refurbished walkback on Warren Hill, the busiest part of Newmarket's Training Grounds which sees on average 16,000 horses per month.

Formerly the walkback was a sand surface that was prone to getting frozen in the winter as well as needing irrigation in the summer to reduce dust levels. Following the installation of new drainage, the old sand surface has been replaced with Polytrack, transferred from the all-weather Long Hill gallop, that itself was refurbished with a new Polytrack surface earlier in the year.

The new Warren Hill walkback, with its drainage, will provide a safer and more weather resistant surface and was unanimously welcomed by those using Newmarket Training Grounds with trainers and stable staff appreciating the new smoother, more level surface.

Jockey Club Estates Training Grounds Manager Nick Patton said: "Our role is to continually look at how we can improve the facilities for the trainers and make things better for the horses and their riders. We are really pleased with the new surface and delighted that it has been well received.

“A big thank you must go to Colin Driver, Steven Martin and Michael Baxter from our team who have been working hard on putting the new facility in since July. It's the most heavily used walking ground in the town but was unusable for periods in the winter when the previous sand track was frozen. Hopefully that is now a thing of the past and the new Polytrack will allow it to be used all year round.”