Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory

The Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory is a non-profit (501c3) corporation formed to serve as one stop gateway for the testing and coordination of testing of surfaces used for performance and race horses. The lab strives will provide comparison for a wide range of surfaces used in the industry. This comparison data will be based on testing from the laboratory and cooperating partner laboratories and will create a basis for a comparative database. Fully documented procedures for all tests will be provided to the industry for use in performing comparison testing from other laboratories. When preferable from a cost or timing standpoint, it is expected that results from local agricultural or construction laboratory may be used by the racetracks and training centers. However, many newer techniques may be beyond the capabilities or require special equipment unavailable in standard labs. In these cases the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory will be able to provide this testing. As the methods become more commonly used, the open procedures will allow tests to be duplicated at local university laboratories, testing laboratories or in some cases even at the track or training center. However, previous laboratory testing results have proven to be inconsistent and a central laboratory is needed as a reference lab for the industry.

The laboratory will commit to providing laboratory resources with timely response for all relevant tests. The laboratory results database will be developed in conjunction with the maintenance database and the injury database developed by the Jockey Club. As new methods tailored to the unique needs of a racing and performance horse surfaces evolve, the laboratory will serve a necessary role in the development of standards for racing surfaces.