STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

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STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide: STRI Group has launched a new Racecourse Water Management: Best Practice Guide, providing practical, evidence-led guidance to support consistent, high-quality racing surfaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The guidance was officially launched at the RCA Vets Medical Turf Management Conference on 28th January and has been developed by STRI in partnership with the Racecourse Association (RCA) and the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), with support from the RCA Ground and Going Group and funding from The Racing Foundation.

STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

As historic climate trends become less reliable, racecourses face growing challenges from drought, intense rainfall and drainage pressures. The new guide supports a proactive, data-driven approach to water management, helping racecourses make informed decisions that protect surface performance and welfare.

Primarily aimed at Clerks of Course and grounds teams, the guide is also relevant for racecourse executives and decision-makers responsible for planning, investment and risk management. Designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences, it also serves as a valuable training resource for staff new to racecourse operations.

The guidance builds on STRI’s Performance Quality Standard (PQS) framework for turf horse racing, translating improved data measurement and understanding of the relationship between soil moisture and Going into clear, practical advice. It covers soil–water interaction, irrigation demand, calculating water requirements and the importance of measuring soil moisture.

Dr Christian Spring, Principal Scientist at STRI Group commented, “In sport, we can no longer rely on historic climate trends alone to guide how natural turf courses are managed. The impacts of prolonged drought, intense rainfall and poor drainage can be significant, affecting both surface performance and welfare. To meet these challenges, racecourses must be adaptive, flexible and prepared, with the right infrastructure in place and teams who can make informed, confident decisions about their tracks. The document also provides a valuable training resource for staff who are new to racing or racecourse management and at its core, the guide prioritises the welfare of horses and jockeys.”

The guide can be downloaded on STRI’s website here: https://strigroup.com/racecourse-water-management-best-practice-guide-launched-download-here/

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Bionema Launches NemaGen® to Support Turf Industry

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Bionema Launches NemaGen® to Support Turf Industry: The UK natural turf sector, valued at approximately USD 501 million in 2024 and projected to continue growing, is facing sustained pressure from crane fly and chafer larvae, following the withdrawal of chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid from amenity use.

The amenity turf sector includes golf courses, sports pitches, racecourses, and airfields, where soil insect damage directly affects surface quality, safety, and renovation costs.

Bionema Launches NemaGen® to Support Turf Industry

Bionema Launches NemaGen® to Support Turf Industry

Industry observations across multiple UK golf courses and sports facilities indicate leatherjacket populations have increased from historic levels of approximately 30 larvae per m² to peaks of 100–600 larvae per m² at affected sites. Turf managers report increased renovation, labour and surface repair requirements as a result.

In response, Bionema has launched NemaGen® Hd, a cold-tolerant entomopathogenic nematode platform active from soil temperatures of 8°C. UK field trials have demonstrated 60–70% control of leatherjackets and chafer grubs under defined soil temperature and moisture conditions.

NemaGen® Hd offers:

  • Extended seasonal application from early spring through autumn.
    • Structured temperature-timed deployment guidance.
    • Compatibility with wetting agents to optimise dispersal.
    • Direct technical support from Dr Minshad Ansari, specialist in entomopathogenic nematodes.

In addition, the improved formulation enhances product stability, delivering a shelf life of up to 10 weeks under recommended storage conditions, with encapsulated formats offering extended stability for specialist applications.

“With regulatory changes reducing curative insecticide options, the sector requires reliable biological alternatives that are correctly timed and technically supported,” said Dr Ansari. “NemaGen® Hd is designed as a deployable biological solution within integrated pest management programmes, restoring confidence in biological turf insect control.”

Commercial supply for the 2026 season is now open.

NemaGen® Hd is suitable for golf courses, sports pitches, racecourses, airfields and managed lawns.

Bionema is currently selecting one to two UK and EU distribution partners for the 2026 season.

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Former Lombard Trophy winner joins Germinal Sales Team

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Former Lombard Trophy winner joins Germinal Sales Team: Germinal Amenity, the market leader in the development and supply of specialist seed products for the amenity sector, is delighted to announce the appointment of former Lombard Trophy winner and golf pro, Doug Brolls, as Technical Sales Representative for the Northeast of England and Scotland.

Originally hailing from Scotland and born in Lockerbie, Doug has spent a lifetime playing, coaching, competing and managing golf courses and playing surfaces. He now resides in the Northeast and is a lifelong Sunderland FC supporter.

Former Lombard Trophy winner joins Germinal Sales Team

Former Lombard Trophy winner joins Germinal Sales Team

Doug has extensive knowledge of golf and golf courses, not only in the Northeast and Scotland, but right across the whole of the UK and beyond. This awareness has been cultivated during his life as a golf professional and coach, and a multiple times winner on the North, Northeast and Northwest PGA circuits, and winning the prestigious Lombard International Trophy in Portugal in 1998.

Commenting, Richard Brown, Amenity Director of Germinal GB & Ireland, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Doug to Germinal Amenity. He has a deep understanding of players, customer service, competing and the amenity sports surfaces industry. He also has an extensive knowledge of the Northeast of England and Scotland as a territory.

As a former golfing pro and player at a exceptionally high level, he brings a unique perspective of the quality and standards that turf managers and players demand. He will be a huge addition to our team and for our customers across the sports amenity, turf management and landscape communities. Welcome on board, Doug!”

Commenting, Doug Brolls said:

“I’m very excited to join Germinal Amenity as Technical Sales Representative for Scotland and the Northeast of England. I am looking forward to using my knowledge and background in turf management with golf clubs, sports venues and turf professionals to deliver high-performance, sustainable surfaces using Germinal’s industry-leading seed and grass solutions. I am also really looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new customers and supporting Germinal’s commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability across the sports and amenity sector.”

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