Tractor heritage, news and features

JD keeps racing on course

After the grounds staff’s efforts in the first week in January (pictured here, courtesy of the Nottingham Evening Post), racing went ahead without any problem. Southwell has been one of the few racecourses in the country to host regular race meetings during the wintry conditions.

Southwell’s 15.5m wide, 1.25 mile long all-weather track is covered by 14,500 tonnes of Fibresand, made by Nottinghamshire company Mansfield Sand, to a depth of 203mm. Three of the UK’s four all-weather tracks are at Southwell, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton, all owned and managed by Arena Leisure plc, the biggest racecourse operator in the UK.

Arena Leisure recently signed a five-year preferred supplier partnership agreement with John Deere for the supply of equipment from walk-behind and ride-on mowers up to 200hp tractors, for use on the organisation’s seven UK race tracks, two golf courses and two hotel complexes.