SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/251524
February 2014 | SportsTurf 37 www.stma.org ries for workshops and presentations on the latest technologies affecting track maintenance. Participants earn credit for the Safety Training and Continuing Education component of the NTRA's Safety and Integrity Alliance Code of Standards, an industry initiative that assures best prac- tices are in place at the nation's most recognizable racetracks. "The 'track super' meeting has had great support by tracks in North America and we're now attracting managers from Dubai, Europe and Asia," said Roy Smith, track superintendent at Parx Racing near Philadelphia and a founder of the Field Day. "All are interested in the same goal: making the surfaces safe for the horses and humans, as well as providing the betting public the assurance of a level playing field for all competitors." The gathering is especially important because racetrack maintenance is a specialty that, despite the billions of dollars that depend on it, can't be gleaned from a text book. "You don't learn how to manage a dirt, turf or synthetic course in school," said Javier Barajas, track superintendent for both the Dubai Racing Club in the United Arab Emirates and Canterbury Park near the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. "It's very much a hands-on learning experience and I've been glad to assist and teach oth- ers what works for me." The significance of Field Day was reinforced earlier this year with the addition of the event's first title sponsor in John Deere. At what is now known as Track Superintendents' and Arena Managers' Field Day Presented by John Deere, the tractor giant benefits from increased ex- posure in front of decision-makers who spend millions on coddling their terra firma, while track superintendents receive NTRA member discounts on equipment that can make a direct and significant impact to their bottom line. Additional Field Day sponsors include Stabilizer Solutions, Toro, Hunter Industries, Valvoline, MD Barnmaster, Horsemen's Track & Equipment, AGCO's Challenger and Massey, Arbico Organics, Lar- com & Mitchell, Equine Savings, Global Barrier Systems, and Du- ralock, Ltd. "There is no comparable gathering for people invested in building and maintaining safe and fair track surfaces," said Bryan Pettigrew, sen- ior vice president of NTRA, who spearheads the industry association's support of the Field Day. "Participation continues to grow, which just shows you that people are waking up to the importance of good track maintenance." For information on the 2014 Track Superintendents' and Arena Managers' Field Day Presented by John Deere, contact Heather Brown at hbrown@ntra.com or 866-678-4289. n