Maintaining a consistent, high-quality racing surface is a year-round challenge at Hamilton Park Racecourse, but Head Groundsman Prentis Russell believes a well-planned nutrition programme, supported by Agrovista Amenity, is helping the track perform at its best.
Prentis joined the racecourse around eight months ago, stepping into his first head groundsman role after more than a decade in the industry.
“I spent 11 years at Ayr Racecourse before coming here,” he explains. “It was my first ever job and I just fell in love with racing and the work that comes with it. I’m not from a racing background originally, but once I started, I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
During his time at Ayr, Prentis gained his Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, which enabled him to progress into management. When the opportunity arose at Hamilton, he was encouraged to take the next step.
“My previous boss said to me, ‘Go for it, it’s your next step.’ And it’s been amazing so far. This is my first head groundsman role, and it’s been a brilliant challenge.”
Hamilton presents a unique test for turf management. Unlike many race courses, its layout includes several different start positions and a testing uphill finish, placing varying demands on the surface throughout the track. The soil profile also differs from his previous role.
“At Ayr, the soil profile was sandy because it’s a coastal course. Here at Hamilton, it’s more clay-based, so it holds a lot more moisture. That means we’re always thinking about drainage and how we manage the surface through the year.”
With a four-person team responsible not only for the racecourse but also surrounding grounds and facilities, efficiency and reliability are key. Since arriving at Hamilton, Prentis has worked closely with Agrovista Amenity technical sales manager Stewart Carbray to build a structured fertiliser programme tailored to the track.
“The relationship with Agrovista started when I came in,” he explains. “Stewart had already been helping the team before I arrived, supplying fertiliser, grass seed and advice. I’ve definitely made use of that knowledge since coming in.”
Prentis now works with Stewart to plan seasonal applications, using a range of fertilisers from Agrovista’s Absolute Premier and Evolution Naturelle ranges to support turf health throughout the year.
Spring and summer nutrition is built around products such as Absolute Premier 12-6-6 and Absolute Premier 20-10-10, mini-granular compound fertilisers designed to deliver balanced nutrient input and consistent growth across large turf areas.
“The products are performing amazingly,” says Prentis. “We’re getting really good coverage and response from them, which is exactly what we need on a surface like this.”
The programme continues into the autumn with Evolution Naturelle Sport Autumn 7-0-21, an organo-mineral fertiliser that provides a gradual nutrient release while supporting soil biology and turf strength heading into winter.
“After racing we applied our autumn feed, which is a slow-release product,” Prentis explains. “It’s worked right through the winter for us. The grass coverage out there is amazing, and the colour is looking really good.”
Hamilton stages 18 fixtures between May and September, after which the team enters a renovation and recovery phase before winter conditions arrive.
“We’ll put the track to bed after the season and try to get as much work done as possible before the weather turns,” says Prentis. “The fertiliser programme really helps keep the turf healthy through that period.”
Beyond the products themselves, Prentis says the support he receives from Agrovista is equally valuable.
“Stewart is a massive help,” he says. “If there’s an issue or something I need, I can just contact him, and he’ll always manage to help me out. Whether it’s fertiliser, seed or advice, he’s always able to guide me in the right direction.”
For Prentis, having a reliable partner makes a demanding job a little easier.
“It’s good knowing you’ve got someone you can call for guidance,” he adds. “The products perform well, and the support behind them makes a big difference.”