By Matthew Brincat
After many setbacks, the Marsa Race Track Limited, the concessionaire of the Malta Equidrome Complex, has been given the green light and actual development permit from The Planning Authority on one of its applications to start its project at the Marsa Race Track.
The permits approved are mainly focused on the development of the sporting facilities, being the main Racing Track, the Polo Field, the Equestrian Arena, the Paddock, and the Stable Establishment area.
After lengthy discussions with all stakeholders, works commenced with vigour and speed.
June 8 marked the last day of competitive horse racing, and immediately all good quality basalt gravel was removed and laid in the Old Race Track where upgrading took place and will continue.
Fully laid and levelled, this 1300m track is now serving as an ideal training track for our horses.
This will continue to be upgraded with water irrigation and planting of hedges/creepers and plants to embellish the perimeter of the newly built Chain Link Boundary Wall and fence to create a green screen between the arterial road and track.
The Main Track development to international standards saw the engagement of Lars Sandstrom, a track architect of international repute and expertise, with whom our team consulted to implement a track design approved also by MRC and Equestri Malta.
The building and raising of the track was intended to build the correct gradients and levels that are kinder to the horses and permit a safe racing surface of international standards.
The track drainage system is being built for the first time in every detail. Our architects have devised ten water silt traps of considerable size to collect and drain water at close range.
These in turn, siphon water to three large water reservoirs which are also intended for water harvest of up to 2.5 million litres.
A water French drain gutter has been built between the 1km race track and the polo field that covers 40,000sqm in surface area.
This will be screened by a hedge fence that will offer embellishment and define the track’s outer circumference. This will help direct water to the silt traps and reservoirs. Over spill will then connect to the main waterduct leading to Marsa main aqueduct and the sea. The Drainage of the Complex is a Green Project in its own right.
The track and Polo Field require regular wetting of their surface to allow an optimal surface for competitions and practice.
These drainage works and certain building works will not be visible once completed, and it does some justice to MRTL that stakeholders appreciate and are well informed that this infrastructural work, although unseen, will assist in materialising a facility of such a good standard.
The works in progress now enter into their seventh week and are progressing at a very commendable rate with civil works as described in full progress, ranging from excavations, pipe laying, building of reservoirs, and roofing. The demolition of the clubhouse is expected in the next days after it has been completely stripped.
Material infill was recycled from within the site itself, but building of most layers of the track required graded material.
The main track is being fully built with graded material as directed by the Track architect consultant Sandstrom.
Such material is literally a build-up structure. Besides having the absorption properties, it also caters for the correct footage that is kind to our horses.
Gradients and inclinations are designed with a main focus on the well-being of horses.
The architects, surveyors, and workers have been onsite for the past weeks to ensure all execution is to the best standards and design technicalities.
Equestri Malta, Malta Racing Club and the Malta Polo Club, as stakeholders, have independent or approved consultants that monitor the progress of works.
MRC has endorsed Sandstrom, whilst MPC has engaged Battro Fields, Polo Fields Experts from Argentina, who contribute with their advice on the Polo Field.
Equestri Malta has appointed an independent architect who monitors and supervises works in progress.
It’s a reality coming true in more senses than one. Delays were varied and seemed insurmountable at certain stages.
MRTL has had to suffer the consequences of bureaucracy and other setbacks not of its own making.
MRTL’s determination is bearing fruit with the collaboration of stakeholders who now understand that MRTL can deliver on all promises.
The Office of the Prime Minister has shown encouragement and enthusiasm to have this development materialise and continues to insist on its importance in the best interest of all stakeholders who have been assured a development of international standard.
The challenges are continuous as the works envisaged are extensive, but at this stage focus is intensified on the main track with a set target date of October 15. Horses continued summer racing in Gozo and had the Old Race Track refurbished and rebuilt as training grounds regularly maintained.
MRTL is committed to reopening the main track for training and trials on October 15 to permit actual competitions to restart in November. This is challenging; however, with the remarkable progress of work, it should be an attainable milestone.
Newly imported good-quality and approved sand will be laid on the running surface.
The track has been redesigned with a width of 19m, retaining the one kilometre distance. This was crucial for national records and statistical purposes.
The architects have managed without compromising anything else to place an 8m Gallop Track on the Grandstand side.
The gallop track will have its final stretch in front of the Grandstand and the photo finish.
Although this width will be completed this summer, the integration of the Gallop Track will happen in the months to follow, as it will require the elevation of the Old Race Track to a Gallop Track.
It will continue to permit regular training for trotters, albeit having a softer sand surface to permit usage for Gallop and Trotters alike.
The challenges continue to reopen for competitions with the installation of all peripheral fencing that will be imported from household names in Equestrian facilities, such as Gridlock fencing.
The track will be installed with horse and spectator fencing of an international standard, further embellishing and closing a security circuit.
Track Re-open date
Such works in progress necessitated the removal of various trees that were overgrown and obstructing spectators’ and judges’ visuals.
These were all replanted on the peripheral boundaries within the complex for further embellishment.
Once the track reopens for horse activity, the development works will continue on the perimeter of the track, where a focus on the paddock facilities, the stabling area and the equestrian arena will intensify.
MRTL needs the forbearance and cooperation of stakeholders to appreciate that these works and infrastructural investment will deliver to them a complex of international standards.
The MRTL will also rebuild a new grandstand and spectator area. A new presentation area will also be developed, and designs have been approved.
A New Drivers and Jockey room, as well as Paddock Officials’ offices, will be built to make way with the present one.
One cannot stress enough that MRTL needs encouragement and appreciation for its drive to deliver the best possible Equestrian Complex, and stakeholders, who once felt discouraged or lost hope that this development would ever come to fruition, should start to believe that it’s a dream in the making.
We pledge all our efforts and determination to deliver.
Note: Dr Matthew Brincat is the CEO of Malta Equidrome and Marsa Race Track Limited.
