The turfs at the Olympic equestrian venues will be in their best conditions when the Olympic equestrian events are held in Hong Kong this August, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) said yesterday.

The turfs at the Beas River and Penfold Park venues are very good and they can resist heavy rains, said HKJC's assistant tracks manager Cheung Tsz-yin.

The HKJC yesterday arranged a media field visit to the Penfold Park. As the event is held in the rainy season, Bermuda grass which is grown in sand-based soil and has a better drainage function is used instead of grass that grows in common soil, Cheung said.

"Last Saturday, 200 millimeters of rain was recorded when the black rainstorm warning was issued," he said. "But when I inspected the Beas River and Penfold Park venues at about 7am and 11am the next day, the turfs were very fine and were not water-logged."

Given that Bermuda grass is a summer grass that grows well in subtropical Hong Kong and that the weather will become hotter in August, the grass will then be in even better conditions.

Since Bermuda grass has been used for the Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses for years, HKJC's maintenance team knows very well about its growth cycle and the suitable chemicals and fertilizers.

Bermuda grass provides more cushion for horses, he added.

Besides, maintenance staff will check the hardness of the turf regularly because grasses that are too hard or too soft will injure the horses.

(HK Edition 04/24/2008 page1)