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In British horse racing, everything begins and ends with the ground. The quality of the racing surface affects horse welfare, safety, performance, attendance, and revenue. Behind every televised meeting and every sold-out raceday is a groundcare team operating sophisticated machinery to deliver consistent, safe going conditions.
Yet the very equipment that makes this possible—de-compactors, precision mowers, aerators, irrigation systems, utility vehicles, and specialist turf technology—represents a major capital investment. That is where Gable Business Finance helps UK racecourses stay ahead.
Gable Business Finance specialises in ground care equipment finance for UK racecourses, finance for landscape machinery for UK racecourses, offering tailored solutions such as hire purchase, leasing, asset refinance, and business loans. Our goal is simple: help you access state-of-the-art machinery and technology while protecting your cash flow, supporting long-term planning, and enabling you to deliver world-class racing surfaces season after season.
Whether you operate a flat, jumps, all-weather, or dual-purpose track, the condition of your racing surface is central to your success. Modern, high-performing ground care equipment is no longer optional; it is essential for:
With more eyes than ever on the welfare of racehorses and the safety of jockeys, British racecourses are under constant scrutiny. Having the right machinery allows your team to respond quickly to weather events, present the right level of cushioning, and maintain a surface that reduces the risk of avoidable injuries.
Correct ground preparation is one of the most powerful tools a racecourse has to protect horses. Modern groundcare equipment helps you to:
When ground conditions are consistent and predictable, horses and jockeys can perform with confidence, and racing authorities can trust the track’s integrity.
Owners, trainers, jockeys, and punters all rely on one thing: consistency of going. Advanced ground care equipment enables you to:
When the surface is managed with precision, performance data becomes more reliable, form becomes more meaningful, and your course earns a reputation for fairness.
Modern groundcare equipment also changes how your team works. New-generation machinery offers:
In an environment where labour, fuel, and maintenance costs are rising, investing in the right equipment can significantly reduce long-term operating costs—provided that investment is structured intelligently. That is where Gable Business Finance offers a strategic advantage.
Gable Business Finance can support finance for a wide range of racecourse ground care assets. If it helps you prepare, maintain, or improve the racing surface or supporting areas, it can usually be financed.
Instead of waiting years to save for a single machine, racecourses can now take a long-term, planned approach to fleet replacement and groundcare strategy via tailored finance solutions.
Investing in ground care equipment through Gable Business Finance allows you to think beyond “what can we afford this year?” and instead ask “what do we need to deliver world-class racing over the next five to ten years?”
Racecourses face a unique combination of high-profile public scrutiny, seasonal income patterns, and weather-dependent operations. By working with Gable Business Finance, you can align your finance strategy with these realities rather than forcing your operations to fit rigid funding models.
Gable Business Finance offers a range of funding structures designed specifically to support racecourse operations. Each option can be tailored to match your cash flow profile, equipment needs, and long-term plans.
Hire Purchase is a popular option for racecourses that want to own the equipment outright at the end of the term. Under a hire purchase agreement, you typically pay an initial deposit followed by fixed monthly instalments over an agreed period.
Once the final payment is made, ownership of the asset transfers to your racecourse. This structure suits equipment with a long working life that you intend to keep, such as de-compactors, irrigation infrastructure, or core turf renovation machinery.
A finance lease gives you the use of the equipment for most of its working life, with repayments structured similarly to a loan. While the finance company retains legal ownership during the term, you have full operational control.
At the end of the primary lease period, you may have options to continue using the asset, upgrade, or otherwise settle the agreement depending on the structure agreed at the outset.
An operating lease functions more like a rental arrangement. You use the equipment for a fixed term and then return it at the end. This is ideal for racecourses that want to keep machinery consistently up to date without the long-term commitment of ownership.
Contract hire is a long-term rental solution that can include maintenance and servicing within the monthly payment. This gives your racecourse a high degree of cost certainty and operational simplicity.
Asset refinance allows you to unlock the value tied up in equipment you already own. By refinancing existing machinery, you can release a lump sum of working capital while continuing to use the assets as normal.
Business loans provide an upfront injection of capital that can be used to purchase equipment, upgrade infrastructure, or support a broader groundcare project. Loans may be structured as secured or unsecured, depending on your circumstances.
Gable Business Finance will work with you to identify the most suitable combination of these options to fit your racecourse’s short-term requirements and long-term strategy.
Every racecourse is different. Some host a handful of high-profile meetings a year, others deliver a busy all-weather calendar, and many operate extensive training or events facilities alongside racing. Gable Business Finance begins by understanding:
Based on this understanding, Gable Business Finance structures a solution that may combine:
Rather than reacting to urgent breakdowns or last-minute needs, our approach encourages proactive asset planning. Together, we can map out :
The result is a clearer, more predictable path to maintaining world-class racing surfaces without destabilising your finances.
A dual-purpose racecourse with a demanding jumps and flat calendar faced rising repair bills and increasing downtime due to an ageing groundcare fleet. Critical equipment—including de-compactors, mowers, and utility vehicles—was nearing the end of its useful life, and the grounds team was struggling to maintain consistency across changing weather conditions.
Challenge: Replace multiple machines simultaneously without exhausting cash reserves or disrupting operations in the middle of a busy season.
Solution from Gable Business Finance:
Outcome: The racecourse reduced mechanical downtime, improved surface presentation, and gained predictable monthly payments. The grounds team reported better control over going, while management benefited from reduced surprise repair bills and a clearer long-term fleet strategy.
An established turf track struggled with heavy downpours and prolonged dry spells. The existing irrigation system lacked precision, and drainage infrastructure was outdated, resulting in inconsistent going and increased risk of abandonments.
Challenge: Invest in a modern irrigation and drainage solution without compromising other capital commitments.
Solution from Gable Business Finance:
Outcome: The racecourse significantly improved its resilience to extreme weather. Abandonments reduced, horses and trainers reported more consistent conditions, and the course protected valuable fixture income. The finance structure meant upgrades were delivered years earlier than would have been possible through cash-only funding.
A mid-sized racecourse needed to carry out extensive off-season maintenance, including track repairs, training ground work, and infrastructure upgrades. However, tying up cash at a time of lower income posed a challenge.
Challenge: Fund essential off-season works without eroding working capital or compromising pre-season preparation.
Solution from Gable Business Finance:
Outcome: The course completed all planned maintenance on schedule, arrived at the new season with a well-prepared track, and maintained a healthy working capital position. The finance arrangement turned static asset value into productive funding.
With growing environmental expectations and internal sustainability targets, a racecourse decided to reduce its reliance on traditional diesel-powered machinery and begin transitioning to electric and hybrid groundcare equipment.
Challenge: Replace key machines with greener alternatives without overspending in a single financial year.
Solution from Gable Business Finance:
Outcome: The racecourse lowered fuel consumption, reduced noise during maintenance, and showcased its environmental commitment to stakeholders. The finance structure spread the cost and allowed gradual adoption of new technologies.
Gable Business Finance can fund a wide range of equipment including de-compactors, aerators, precision mowers, overseeders, topdressers, rollers, sprayers, spreaders, irrigation and drainage systems, utility vehicles, ATVs, storm and debris clearance equipment, electric or hybrid machinery, and supporting digital turf management tools.
Not necessarily. Finance structures can often be arranged with low or no initial deposit, depending on your circumstances and credit profile. This helps protect your working capital while still allowing you to access the machinery you need.
It depends on your objectives. If you want to own the asset at the end of the term and intend to keep it for many years, hire purchase may be the best option. If you prefer flexibility and regular upgrades, leasing or contract hire can be more appropriate. Gable Business Finance will help you compare structures against your groundcare plan and budget.
Yes. Many racecourses choose to finance a package of machines under a single, consolidated facility. This simplifies administration, allows for predictable, single monthly payments, and can make it easier to manage an entire fleet strategy.
You may be able to use asset refinance to unlock the value tied up in existing machinery. This enables you to free working capital for other projects—such as track repairs, infrastructure upgrades, or additional equipment—while continuing to use your current assets.
Yes. Racecourses often experience significant seasonal fluctuation in income. Finance agreements can be structured with this in mind, using seasonal or stepped payments to align repayments with peak revenue periods.
No. Gable Business Finance supports a wide range of UK racecourses, from major venues with extensive fixture lists to smaller, independent courses. Our solutions scale with your operation, and we tailor each agreement to your specific needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.
Typical terms range from around 2 to 7 years, depending on the type of equipment, its expected working life, and your preferences. Longer terms can reduce monthly payments, while shorter terms allow you to refresh or fully own the asset sooner.
In many cases, finance agreements can offer tax benefits, such as the ability to claim capital allowances or deduct certain payments as business expenses. The exact treatment will depend on your structure and circumstances, so you should always seek advice from your professional accountant. Gable Business Finance can work alongside your advisers to ensure the structure supports your tax planning.
Under structures such as contract hire, it is often possible to include maintenance and servicing as part of the agreement. This helps you control total cost of ownership, avoiding large unexpected bills and making budgeting more predictable.
At the end of a lease or contract hire term, you will usually have a range of options, such as returning the equipment, extending the agreement, or upgrading to newer machinery. The choices will be clearly set out before you enter into the agreement, so you can plan ahead with confidence.
Yes. Racecourses sometimes need to accelerate investment ahead of key fixtures or seasons. Gable Business Finance aims to make timely decisions and structure finance efficiently so you can deploy new equipment when it matters most, subject to underwriting and approval.
Finance can be used both for machinery and for certain types of infrastructure projects related to groundcare, such as irrigation systems, pumps, and water storage solutions. Business loans and tailored facilities can support larger programmes of work.
Gable Business Finance focuses on specialist equipment funding and understands the operational realities of racecourses and groundcare teams. We recognise the importance of horse welfare, going consistency, seasonal income patterns, and the pressure of maintaining a high-profile racing surface. This sector understanding allows us to shape finance solutions that make practical, commercial sense for your track.
Whether you are planning a full machinery fleet renewal, targeted upgrades to key equipment, an irrigation overhaul, or a transition to more sustainable groundcare technology, Gable Business Finance can provide the funding structure to make it happen.
By aligning your finance strategy with your racing calendar, turf management plan, and long-term asset strategy, you can deliver safer, more consistent racing surfaces without over-stretching your capital or compromising future investment opportunities.
Take the next step and explore how ground care equipment finance can transform your racecourse operations, protect horse welfare, and strengthen your commercial performance.
Contact Gable Business Finance today to discuss a tailored solution for your racecourse.