Certifying distances on a Horse Track

Sounds like a cool project.

Silly question, 1.745% slope down hill only? and is the length along the rail or somewhere else? Inquiring minds gotta know. I agree, it does sound like a good project.

Steve

I have certified a local university's competition swimming pool several times. But other than competition, there's little similarity. The point I wanted to make was there was a stack of requirements for the pool's cert. It had to be measured before a sanctioned swim; and after if anyone broke a record.

What you've quoted for the racetrack seems sparse. I can't help but think there is more published fodder out there.

The only one that I have layed out was to replace an existing rail. Makes sense - that's why horses crowd to it on the turns ...
This was at the Coconino County Fairgrounds.

dajones, post: 366938, member: 2397 wrote: We have been requested to provide a certified statement verifying distances and grade on a track at the Cochise County Fairgrounds in southeastern Arizona. Has anyone here ever performed such a survey? Looking for specifics like is the distance measured along the inside rail? Is there a standard form for said certification? Etc...

Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Dale Jones

The AQHA rule is as follows...

302. Track Responsibilities
(e) The track is responsible for setting starting gates so races are actually run at designated distances. There shall not be a downhill slope in excess of one degree (1å¡) over the length of the straightaway. At AQHA‰Ûªs request, a track must file with AQHA a certified statement by a licensed surveyor that all American Quarter Horse distances at the track have been surveyed for grade and distance within the last five years.

Dale:

I found this. Don't know if it will help.

I have NOT certified any tracks.

Years ago I worked with a PLS on the Saratoga Race Course; a thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York. We would measure along the rail and topo across the grade at every 25ft section. We had a transit on the radius point, and taped the chord distances along the rail. We set station marks, stamped on the inside of the rail every 25ft. Back then we used a hand level on the rail and pulled chain across the track with a few helpers. Then used a level to take a reading every 10ft across the track.

This particular surveyor also certified many high school and college running tracks.

Everything is started from the radius points. They should be set with irons in concrete, depending on how old the track is. So be sure to find them. Also look for original drawings. Some tracks are created with 3 center curves, resembling a spiral, but not. They are 3 compound curves.

On one particular harness horse track, they were very concerned at the location of the crown of the track, but at the the hard pan. Not at the top of the fluffed sand clay mix. The hard pan is down 3" to 7" below grade and required hand tools to un-earth it.

Recently assisted a Topcon dealer with an install at another track setting up GNSS on graders for maintenance of the track.

Good luck.

Charles L. Dowdell, post: 366950, member: 82 wrote: Dale:

I found this. Don't know if it will help.

Dale:

Type "Quarter Horse Race Track Design" in your search engine block and a lot of track designs will pop up.

Are you sure quarter horses are racing here? No pacers, trotters or saddlebreds? AQHA covers a lot of different equine types.

A few years ago we did layout on Belterra Park on the east side of Cincinnati. They demolished the existing River Downs facility, constructed a new racino and relocated the track on the property. When we staked the mile long dirt track the base line, that the track distance was measured from, was 3 feet off of the inside rail.

If that is the baseline they are looking for you could as-built the inside rail, connect it with a polyline, offset it 3 feet and list the length of the polyline.

Belterra Park (October 9, 2015)

River Downs (August 29, 2012)

You need to have your client provide you with the specifications of the organization under whose authority races will take place, I worked on the layout of an NCAA certified track years ago and there were very specific rules regarding how each lane's length was measured. Your project may be simpler but I would the client provide the specs.

Warren Smith, post: 366946, member: 9900 wrote:
The only one that I have layed out was to replace an existing rail. Makes sense - that's why horses crowd to it on the turns ...
This was at the Coconino County Fairgrounds.

Hey Warren - I know where that is! The track was shut down several years ago... Horse racing seems to have died out in Arizona in the last 10 years or so.

dajones, post: 366938, member: 2397 wrote: We have been requested to provide a certified statement verifying distances and grade on a track at the Cochise County Fairgrounds in southeastern Arizona. Has anyone here ever performed such a survey? Looking for specifics like is the distance measured along the inside rail? Is there a standard form for said certification? Etc...

Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Dale Jones

The AQHA rule is as follows...

302. Track Responsibilities
(e) The track is responsible for setting starting gates so races are actually run at designated distances. There shall not be a downhill slope in excess of one degree (1å¡) over the length of the straightaway. At AQHA‰Ûªs request, a track must file with AQHA a certified statement by a licensed surveyor that all American Quarter Horse distances at the track have been surveyed for grade and distance within the last five years.

Used to be just a straightaway, no turns. If that's the case on your track, the critical factor is laying out the gate at 90 to the straightaway so all lanes are equal length.

Thank you guys very much for your input! I am meeting with the folks from the facility this afternoon and will hopefully be given a clear set of directions. Should be an interesting project!!