Sports TurfAgronomic OptimizationTurf Establishment
Canterbury Park
Turf Enhancement
A Partnership That Made a Winning Track
…it starts with the seed!
When Canterbury Park needed to transform a worn racing surface into a nationally broadcast-quality turf track, they didn’t just need products — they needed a partner who understood soil, seed, and the unforgiving demands of elite horse racing.
Canterbury Park’s one-mile turf track is among the most scrutinized surfaces in Midwest racing. Watched by horse owners, trainers, national broadcasters, and safety regulators, every inch must perform under pressure — race after race, season after season. What began as a single cold call in 2019 became one of the most successful long-term agronomic partnerships in the region.
28
Acres of racing and event turf managed
3×
Soil testing cycles per racing season
~0
Herbicide & fungicide use — near elimination
1932
The Year Ramy Turf was founded
The Challenge
A High-Stakes Surface with No Room for Error
Canterbury Park’s one-mile, 14-acre turf track is not just a playing field — it’s a critical asset for horse safety and the primary visual stage for national broadcast television. When Kevin Cole stepped into the turf manager role in 2019, he inherited a significant challenge: maintaining a world-class racing surface without deep turf science experience, and with the entire industry watching.
Beyond the track itself, an additional 14 acres of infield and event turf demanded the same standard — consistent playability, strong root development, and a clean, manicured appearance under the lights and cameras. The gap between where the surface was and where it needed to be was wide. The stakes for getting it wrong — injured horses, failed inspections, or poor national presentation — were real.
What was needed wasn’t a product purchase. It was a sustained agronomic program, built from the ground up, and grounded in genuine expertise.
The Solution
A Cold Call That Became a Season-Long Partnership
What began as a cold call became one of Ramy Turf’s defining customer relationships. Geoff Jordan, Managed Turf Specialist at Ramy Turf Products, took a hands-on approach from the very first visit — not as a sales call, but as a true agronomic consultation. Rather than prescribing a product stack, Geoff worked side by side with Kevin to understand the track’s specific soil conditions, drainage patterns, wear zones, and seasonal pressures.
Soil Health as the Foundation
The program was anchored by soil testing three times per racing season — not once annually, as is common practice. This cadence enabled data-driven, in-season adjustments rather than reactive fixes after problems emerged.
Precision Fertility & Biological Amendments
Brandt/Grigg liquid fertilizers and soil amendments were selected and applied based on real test results, not standard programs. TerraMax Tazo biological products were incorporated to improve microbial activity, soil structure, and long-term resilience from the root zone up.
In-Season Monitoring & Rapid Response
Regular in-season visits allowed Geoff and Kevin to track soil moisture, root depth, turf firmness, and surface density in real time. Hoof impact areas — the most rapidly degraded zones on any racing surface — received specialized attention modeled after golf course divot management protocols, ensuring fast, consistent repair between race days.
Integrated Mowing, Irrigation & Pest Management
The full agronomic cycle — from mowing heights and irrigation scheduling to targeted pest monitoring — was brought under a single, coordinated program. This systems approach replaced fragmented, reactive decision-making with predictable, proactive turf management.
Ramy Turf is not just a supplier — they’re a trusted partner in the field, season after season.
— Canterbury Park Turf Program
The Results
A Midwest Premier Racing Surface — Built to Last
The transformation at Canterbury Park has been measurable, sustained, and recognized across the industry. Through the partnership with Ramy Turf Products, the track has evolved from a surface with significant agronomic gaps into one of the premier racing venues in the Midwest — attracting horses, trainers, and spectators from across the country.
Soil Health
Significantly improved beneficial microbial activity supports stronger, more resilient turf with deeper root systems that withstand the mechanical stress of racing hooves.
Chemical Reduction
Herbicide and fungicide use has been substantially reduced and is near elimination — a direct result of biologically healthy soil that naturally resists disease pressure and weed intrusion.
Broadcast Standards
The surface now consistently meets the visual quality standards required for national television broadcast — a key operational and commercial requirement for Canterbury Park’s events calendar.
Horse & Rider Safety
Track firmness, consistent surface texture, and rapid repair of impact zones have elevated safety outcomes for horses and jockeys competing on the surface throughout the season.
Operational Confidence
Kevin Cole and his team now operate with a structured, data-driven program that removes uncertainty from day-to-day turf decisions — enabling proactive management at every stage of the season.
Long-Term Partnership
What began as a single cold call in 2019 has grown into a multi-season working relationship — one built on trust, field presence, and a shared commitment to performance.
Canterbury Park stands today as a proof point for what’s possible when technical agronomic expertise meets genuine customer partnership — where the supplier shows up not just at the point of sale, but throughout the entire season, in the field, with answers.
Ready to Build Your Turf Program?
Whether you manage a racing surface, an athletic field, or a high-performance landscape, Ramy Turf Products brings the expertise, products, and hands-on support to get you there.
About Ramy Turf Products
Founded in 1932, Ramy Turf Products has served the upper Midwest with precision-engineered seed blends and erosion control solutions for over 90 years. From state agency mixes for MnDOT and BWSR to professional sports turf programs, Ramy combines deep soil science, field-tested products, and hands-on expertise to deliver surfaces that perform.
A Nexterra Environmental Company
Ramy Turf Products is part of the Nexterra Environmental platform — a multi-regional distributor of erosion control and stormwater management solutions, serving infrastructure, energy, commercial, municipal, and residential markets across the Midwest and Southeast.
