Flexiroc's Equine Air: Recycled Rubber Enhancing Racetrack Surfaces

Overview

Pakenham Racing Club is leading the way in combining equine safety with environmental innovation. In partnership with surface engineering company Flexiroc and with support from Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), the club has trialled a new surface material called Equine Air—an all-weather racetrack solution that incorporates recycled rubber from end-of-life tyres.

This initiative is part of a broader push to explore circular solutions in the racing and equine sectors, with two connected trials demonstrating the performance, durability, and sustainability benefits of rubber-infused track materials.

The Projects

In 2022, the Pakenham Racing Club began its first Equine Air trial, replacing a portion of the mounting yard with a specially developed porous pavement. The surface included 27 tonnes of recycled tyres, providing a firm yet cushioned base that supports safe horse movement while improving water drainage and reducing surface temperature.

Building on that success, Flexiroc further explored the use of recycled rubber in Equine Air across additional zones, assessing how the material could be applied more broadly across racetrack environments. These trials tested the resilience of the surface under various weather conditions and foot traffic, with consistently positive feedback from handlers and track management.

Why It Matters

Racecourses endure high volumes of foot traffic, unpredictable weather, and demand for high-performance surfaces. Traditional materials can fall short in delivering both animal welfare and sustainability outcomes. Equine Air’s formulation—including a significant proportion of tyre-derived material—demonstrates that high-performance surfaces can also deliver environmental benefits.

Key advantages include:

• Enhanced shock absorption and traction for horses
• Improved drainage and surface longevity
• Utilisation of Australian end-of-life tyres, contributing to landfill diversion and local circular economy efforts

The Impact

Together, the trials at Pakenham Racing Club diverted over 2,000 passenger tyres from landfill, showing what’s possible when industry innovation meets practical sustainability. This work contributes to TSA’s broader mission to build viable, scalable end-markets for tyre-derived materials (TDM) and support projects that align with both performance and environmental goals.

With TSA’s Market Development Fund backing, projects like Equine Air are turning waste into opportunity—across sectors and across the country.