Ascot Racecourse Renovation of Moveable Turf Crossing

Fineturf were delighted to be appointed to fully renovate the unique retractable section of track at Ascot racecourse. The project, conducted in April 2025, included the removal of the existing turf and supporting layers, running repairs and full re-installation to get the section of track ready for racing.

The installation of the moveable turf crossing in 2001 marked an industry first. Engineered by ARX, the crossing was designed to provide a solution to the hazards typically presented by access roads cutting across the course. Measuring 54m long and 4.5m wide the crossing runs on steel rails and is finished with a real turf surface to improve the safety for galloping horses and their riders.

The first stage of the recent renovation involved removing the turf surface and existing rootzone, gravel carpet and all drains to take the system back to the steel rails. Any repairs needed to the rails and supporting tray could then be carried out with ease of access. The artificial carpet that creates the join between the track and the moveable section was also cleaned and replaced where required.

In the place of the gravel carpet, a Permavoid Geocellular System was installed into the sub-base – comprised of high strength modular cells proven to provide improved retention, attenuation or infiltration of water at shallower depths. This was topped with a Geotech style membrane before a 70/30 rootzone material was applied. Once consolidated and laser-graded level, it was seeded with a high-quality sports mixture from DLF Seeds.

From start to finish, the project took the Fineturf team just two and a half weeks before the renovated surface was returned to the custodianship of the expert Ascot grounds team.