Louisville, KY - The Churchill Downs horse racing venue is famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby, part of horse racing’s Triple Crown. This historic racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky features a one-mile, dirt oval main track that’s 120 feet wide and an inside 7/8ths of a mile turf track that’s 80 feet wide. To improve the turf track, they brought in one of the top turf experts in the country. Based on his analysis, one of the key issues with the turf was the lack of deep root growth which in turn, affected the strength and stability of the turf.

To achieve deeper root growth, a longer growing season and thicker turf, the turf expert turned to COVERMASTER® where he had experienced the proven benefits of EVERGREEN® RADIANT TURF COVERS with other major sports facilities in the past. He knew firsthand that EVERGREEN® RADIANT TURF COVERS would create a greenhouse effect that would in turn provide earlier spring green ups, faster turf growth, and fall dormancy delays – all of which would increase deep root growth and development.

Based on the turf expert’s findings and recommendations, he contacted COVERMASTER® and the duo worked with Churchill Downs track superintendent, Jamie Richardson. Over 424 thousand square feet of EVERGREEN® RADIANT TURF COVERS – that’s nearly 10 acres of premier turf protection and growth covers, were ordered and installed. In addition, 14 TARPMATE AIR™ ROLLERS in custom 50-foot lengths were ordered to provide a fast and easy way to install, remove, and store their turf covers.

Posted April 16, 2024