N C Tony:
You are lucky enough to be attending what will likely be the last Keeneland meet where racing will be conducted over a \"natural\" dirt surface. Maybe after you drain your last drink on your last day there you could scoop up a cupfull of Keeneland main track-- it could be a collectible one day.
Racing from Turfway was on the OTB network Wednesday. These were the first Polytrack races I saw in broad daylight. Those horses sure \"kick up a little dust\" as Maria Muldaur might say. I didn\'t notice if the riders were masked, but all that was missing was the f-----g stagecoach and the f-----g chuckwagon.
Some would call Lexington the cradle of American racing. I guess its like putting Astroturf in Yankee Stadium or Fenway or Wrigley. (Speaking of baseball, Billy Wagner did a great Armando Benitez imitation at Shea tonight) It won\'t be that long before we have our first Polytrack Kentucky Derby sponsored by Yum Brands and Bobphilo@yahoo.com.
I am not unaware of the soundness issues, but I believe overtraining causes a lot of the muscular/skeletal deterioration which eventually leads to breakdown. After an animal has reached racing fitness, why send it to the track day after day to fight with a heavy (and sometimes heavy handed) exercise rider?
I believe that part of the reason that we will unfortunately see more and more Polytrack installations is that the art/ science of track maintenance is a lost art, and there are not many gifted track supers out there who can maintain a racing surface which is safe and consistent.
Racing is one of the great outdoor sports, like soccer and football, that is meant to be conducted under even the most adverse conditions. For racing this means that we have had years and years of racing over off tracks. Its part of the lore, so to speak, and almost every NY racing fan of a certain age will never forget Conquistador Cielo\'s Belmont or Forego\'s brave win in the 1976 Marlboro Cup.
So I guess add Polytrack to Frank Stronach as things it will take a long time for me to get used to. I don\'t think our host TGJB should have any problem with Polytrack-- he\'s already seen f-----g camels ridden by f-----g robots.
I stop wagering on horseracing if they ever bring this crap to New York.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Joe B,
Whether you know it or not,there are many players/gamblers who will NOT wager on any polytrack surface, I\'m one. The matter has already been brought to the attention of NYRA officials who stated they would take the comments of the anti-poly group under advisement.Can\'t you just see that cloud of s--t kicking up on a beautiful sunny day at the SPA.
NYRA is tap city right now and I can\'t imagine any changes for a few years, if ever.
California is going to put the plastic down real soon. Ought to be interesting to see how it plays out.
The whole enchilada sure does change with Ploytrack. Finish times are so dramatically effected it will hav e a major impact on California numbers from a TG perspective and what not.
Anyone know the highest Beyer from TP this past winter?
Richie-
That was classic. I dare not get into a deep discusion about Polytrack. Last time I got into one, a certain aformentioned race sponsor knew everything there was to know about it including the flying debris. Last year, and this year, jocks needed masks. The materials are crushed rubber (tires and sneakers) and Wax coated Silica (Sand). My Company manufactures and sells a Silica derivative so I can tell all the good and bad (FDA REGS etc) things about it, but really don\'t want to get into it. Would you really would love getting rubber (made from Ethylene) and Silica in my lungs nose and throat?
I will most definitely try to scoop some KEE dirt. The problem I might have is the TSCA security at the airport might think I have bomb making materials carrying on the plane.
Horses racing on Polytrack at Keeneland would be akin to Astroturf in Yankee Stadium. I\'ll try to get enough to cover some losses and sell on EBAY. Some day when people come into my office at work and the see a pile of ....Dirt on display in my desk I\'ll tell them about the good old days when horses ran on Dirt.....at Keeland the site of Seabicuit & Dreamer the movie. Want me to get you some Kee Dirt Richie??
I think I would attend a race sponsered by YUM brands, but who was that other sponsor?
NC Tony
Thanks for the excellent words & post - I\'m not looking forward to poly the same way that I\'m looking forward to hitting 50 ... the new surface in KY is even worse than putting astro turf in Fenway , it\'s more like taking down the Green Monster . At least here they don\'t make the horse\'s run in lanes ( knock on wood ) like they do in the land of the rising sun .