THE ongoing fine weather is causing headaches for racecourses and officials trying to provide safe ground for racing.

Watering of tracks is widespread and, while most flat racing tracks have their own watering systems, some of the smaller National Hunt venues are relying on contractors which can be expensive.

Eddie Scally, manager of both Gowran Park and Wexford, said: “Gowran has its own watering system, so it’s just day-to-day maintenance there. But we use a contractor for watering at Wexford and it can be really expensive to provide summer jumping ground.

“Wexford has a pond which collects water all winter, so we have no shortage of water but, being a seaside track, it dries out very quickly.”

Lorcan Wyer, clerk of the course at a number of tracks, said: “It’s hugely challenging. Everyone involved is hoping for a break in the weather.”

Speaking from Clonmel Racecourse on Thursday evening, Wyer said: “Nobody wants to see a jumps meeting starting on good to firm ground.

“We aim to provide ground on the kinder side of good here and thank God we had [contractor] Sean Ryan and his team to help with the watering. It’s also a help when you only have one track to water. The Clonmel card is all hurdles and a bumper, no chases. If the dry spell continues you could see some flexibility in race programming.”

Asked if there was a ‘target’ ground description for flat or jumps racing during the summer, Wyer said: “There is a target but it is track-specific. For example, good to firm ground on a galloping track like Leopardstown is not a problem. But at a country track with sharp bends it could be unsafe, and so you would aim for the slow side of good.”

The Curragh began watering on Thursday ahead of next weekend’s Tattersalls Irish Guineas Weekend. Curragh CEO Brian Kavanagh said on Thursday: “We’re calling it good to firm, good in places.

“The forecast is set fair for next week, with the possibility of some rain from next Thursday, we will see.

“The extra dimension at the Curragh is the training grounds. Pat Kelly’s team are used to dealing with extreme conditions and we’re actually getting more visiting trainers using the Curragh gallops at the moment, perhaps because trainers are having problems with their own facilities.”