The Pro-ride surface at Santa Anita
With five breakdowns, including three fatalities, in the first five days of racing, Santa Anita's synthetic surface has again come under the microscope.
Santa Anita officials and horsemen were concerned that the Pro-Ride surface might have changed following rain, a drop in temperature, and the added traffic of afternoon racing, even while they were uncertain whether the breakdowns could be attributed to the racing surface or other causes.
"We are going to be working on the track in the next couple of days," said Santa Anita president Ron Charles Jan. 4. "We believe that the last power harrowing we did Tuesday (Dec. 30) helped."
The accidents began with the first race of the meet Dec. 26, when Warren's Kenzo broke down on the first turn and Nascar Johnny pulled up on the backside. Warren's Kenzo had to be euthanized and Nascar Johnny will need time off. The next day, Indyanne pulled up in the stretch of the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) with a fractured sesamoid, but is expected to be saved for breeding.
In the seventh race Dec. 29, Flashing Forward was bumped at the start, pulled up on the turn, and had to be vanned off and subsequently euthanized. In the first race Dec. 31, Boozin' Bear broke down in the stretch with a condylar facture of the right hind and had to be euthanized.
Santa Anita had no breakdowns from Jan. 1 to 4 and is dark Jan. 5 and 6. Ian Pearse of Pro-Ride Australia was to arrive to help oversee the work during the off-days. The Pro-Ride surface was installed before last fall's Oak Tree Racing Association meeting to correct the problems that arose with the original Cushion Track synthetic surface.
"We literally went a month without having a horse picked up by the ambulance in the mornings before the meet started," said Charles. "We have been taking readings and been talking to Ian every day to try to find out what's going on."
Horsemen generally were happy with the surface prior to the meet opening Dec. 26, and many were puzzled as to what might have changed.
"Until it started raining and got cold, the track was great," said trainer Bobby Frankel. "I've not had any bad injuries, but I have had some foot problems, such as bruises."
Ed Halpern, executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, said that trainers continue to tell him they prefer synthetic surfaces to dirt surfaces, even with the problems.
"They are just not as quick to say it," Halpern said. "There are a lot of questions in people's minds. There is no maintenance book—that's what was missing from the initial analysis."
Halpern and Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, discussed the situation the morning of Jan. 3 at Clocker's Corner.
"It's very difficult to determine how much is the track and how much is racing anomalies or other racing issues," Arthur said. "Historically, the first few weeks of a meet are always the worst."
Some trainers, while expressing concerns over the breakdowns, noted that Santa Anita with a dirt track in the winter rainy season would have to seal its surface. That would often lead to shorter fields two to three weeks afterward when horses would come up sore, according to Halpern and Arthur.
Trainer James Cassidy said the surface is generally fine but that there have been some problems.
"We have to find out what is causing that," Cassidy said. "Maybe the vehicles, such as the (human) ambulance, are driving over it too fast."
Charles has constantly emphasized the importance of safety to the horses. "To have five days and five horses get injured, three fatally, is something that obviously we need to look into, and we're doing everything we can," he said.
Miff:
(A) Any investigation of the safety of a given surface should take into account
not only injuries/fatalities suffered in the afternoon during the races, but
also during training hours. How about horses sustaining injuries during the
morning and dropping out of sight for weeks, months or being retired? Is this
capable of being monitored? Is it being monitored?
Is anybody studying the effect synthetic surfaces have had on bucked shins among
young runners?
Is anybody studying whether bowed tendons are more or less likely to occur on a
given surface?
(I\'ve been off the backside for nearly 20 years. Do horses still buck shins and
bow tendons?).
Has any California vet or trainer gone on record as saying that synthetic
surfaces have helped runners with hock and stifle problems?
Has a California blacksmith or blacksmiths spoken on the benefits or detriments
of synthetic surfaces on runners\' hooves?
(B) Almost as long as there has been a synthetic debate on this board, I have
pointed out repeatedly (but not scientifically) that it seems that California
trainers (and not just \"Bullet\" Bob Baffert) work their runners longer and
faster than their Eastern and Midwestern counterparts. If runners are being
worked too far, too fast, too frequently, there is probably no surface (or
equine medical miracle) which will keep them sound.
Bee,
All of what you say is true. I do know they monitor various types of injuries in Cali.Tricky swore that all of his Cali stock came back to New York with various back/soft tissue problems. Just one guys opinion.
The main issue in Cali has now become the \"stonewalling\" of synths by the clueless empty suits running the game out there. Tons of money has been spent with very little positive results vs a well maintained dirt surface. The entire synth thing was probably not necessary,it seems that it did not create many new players and made some existing players(like me) bet much less on those surfaces.
What was really accomplished for the animals/racing game in a positive way from synths?
Mike
It\'s hard to imagine a scenario in which CA goes back to dirt within 10 years unless the new surfaces turn into a total racing and economic disaster. S.A. in particular has spent an enormous amount of money switching surfaces twice. It\'s not easy to admit a mistake, but it\'s even harder in circumstances like these.
By a horseplayer for horseplayers
Bruno De Julia
January 7, 2009
Pro-Ride Vs Mother Nature
The much anticipated Santa Anita winter meet at the Great Race Place was off and running this past Friday, December 26th, and after what many felt was a very successful Oak Tree meet, highlighted by the 2008 Breeders’ Cup, the big question on everyone’s mind has been how would the much heralded Pro Ride synthetic surface hold up in the colder weather at the Winter Meet? It did not take long to find out! The meet got off to an auspicious start before even the first race was run. Fatal Bullet, runner-up to Midnight Lute in the Sprint, and Kentucky Bear, who also rced in the Breeders Cup Day, were both injured over the track in December causing Reade Baker to take his horses and go back east, but not before ripping the track.
When we did run on December 26, two horses, Warren\'s Renzo and Nascar Johnny were both pulled up a half a mile into the first race of the meet. \'Houston ~ We Have a Problem! ~ Warren\'s Renzo was pulled up into the first turn, Nascar Johnny a half mile into the race. Warren\'s Renzo had to be euthanized. Both horses were vanned off. Saturday, it didn\'t get any better as the stakes winning filly suffered career-ending sesamoid injuries in the stretch run of the La Brea Stakes. Additionally, Mark Bertrando was vanned off after the 6th race. Monday, Dec. 29 Flashing Forward, a four-year-old Outflanker filly, from the Gary Sherlock barn broke down going to the far turn and suffered fatal injuries. She had to be, unfortunately, euthanized. Furthermore, we know of two other horses on the card that came out of the races off, and were awaiting x-rays results. The cautiously optimistic diagnosis was a jammed ankle, or hairline fracture of the pastern.
One disgruntled owner, a knowledgeable and well-involved individual, was bemoaning the fact he lost two good young horses on this track: \"one was a stifle,(hind end injury), and the other, remodeling of the bones,\'\' he said in a perplexed manner.
\'Remodeling of the bone\', \'sclerosis\', I heard those terms before on this track. During Oak Tree, Racingwithbruno turned out a very talented two-year-old, for 90-120 days under the above diagnosis. Additionally, a friend of mine, and partner in a few other horses, turned out his best two-year-old colts, for the same exact injury. \"Remodeling\' and \'sclerosis\'. So, let\'s understand what those terms mean in English.
The term, bone remodeling, according to Susan M. Stover, DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVS (click here her full article on bone remodeling and clerosis), is often used clinically to refer to changes in shape or size of a bone organ. For example, a bone with a healing fracture is perceived as ‘remodeling’ when the periosteal bone callus associated with the early stages of repair is disappearing later. Technically, however, bone remodeling is the coupled resorption of existing bone tissue and the formation of new bone tissue in one location.
In other words Dr. Stover is telling us that a traumatic or wear on the bone or joint, from a hard racetrack, for example, is causing joints to remodel to handle the stressed out area and heal the damage.
In lament terms, a hard surface affects, immature joints & bone creating joint damage, possible micro~fractures undetectable even via digital x rays. To respond to the injury in the affected areas the equine body remodels the bones and builds new bone tissue on the areas affected.
\"It\'s too hard,\'\' said one trainer, who actually gets on his own horses in the morning. \"It clumps up under their feet,\'\' he added. \"It seems to be better later in the morning,\'\' he responded to the question of how different did the track feel from early to mid-morning workout hours. He did want to remain anonymous as he well stated : \"I want stalls here in the future\".
Speaking from having been clocking at Santa Anita this past December, I found the track, not only to look, but act frozen, especially in the stretch run. You could see patches of frost in the track specifically near the wire and out past the finish line and to the end of the clubhouse before 7:30 am. Why is that significant? Because that is a part of the track that rarely gets sun. Maybe five hours max a day.
Traditionally, the Santa Anita stretch run has always been a source of frustration for track superintendents and management alike. \"we have always had a problem with the stretch run being wet and very hard to keep dry,\'\' said Ron Charles in an interview last year. Former Sup of the main track, Steve Wood, spoke to Racingwithbruno at length over the past ten years of his tenure of the stretch run constantly being 7 to 10 degrees colder and wetter than the rest of the track on a consistent basis.
Therefore, it is easy to speculate that if the temperatures hover around 35 to 40 degrees through the night in Arcadia, the stretch run is more likely to be 25 to 35 degrees, and possibly below freezing. Add the overhang of the clubhouse affecting exposure to the sun and you have a main track that is warmer on the backstretch and far turn, and the stretch run colder, wetter. In essence, two different surfaces.
\"It\'s real good down the backstretch, but when you turn for home it\'s hard as a rock,\'\' top jockey Garrett Gomez reported to the owner and trainer after a third place finish aboard their maiden-claimer opening week.
As far as the clocking, I found that works were generic. They weren\'t transferable from morning to afternoon. If they worked well at Hollywood, they ran well, at Santa Anita it isn\'t the case time~wise. It\'s all about the visual manner of the work here at the Great Race Place. The footing being the key.
So what\'s wrong with Pro-Ride? We made the observation during the Oak Tree meet that horses wearing white wraps in the morning were coming back out of their works with a clean set of bandages. No scuff marks, no soil on the fetlock joint or back of the ankle, but when Curlin and his mate Hawaii Calls worked in between races we saw a different a totally different scenario.
Curlin October 13 at Santa Anita, five furlong work between races:
Worked between races on what seemed to be quite a different track from the morning. Worked from the five furlong pole and was in hand outside workmate, Hawaii Calls, an allowance winner at Oaklawn Park on March 2. Hawaai Calls jock was looking at his watch as they rolled together past the
half mile pole. Curlin was going very easy outside with ears going back and forth. Moved \'Casino Drive-like\' at the 1/4 pole, opened up a half length at the 16th pole and drew off near the wire, and then he took off and galloped out even better than he worked. He finished the work officially in 59 flat. He
went out in 112 and looked like he had so much more left through the clubhouse turn. These synthetic tracks promote stamina and the key is the gallop outs. I also watched his white bandages, which are used universally for works and gallops, and they came back evenly soiled on all four fetlock
joints. What does this mean? It means that the track was looser and far more tiring in the afternoon than in the morning as we watched a number of contenders work that morning come back with clear bandages. So, he worked on a totally different track than the competition. Also, the Asmussen camp was not very happy, in fact, apprehensive, about the surface. They had to be happy with what they saw with Curlin.
We made that note in Today\'s Racing Digest Workout Analysis for October 25 at Santa Anita. We were seeing it then, a firmer than firm in the morning and a loose, good to dead, in turf language, main track in the afternoon. In addition, in the morning and afternoon, horses have not necessarily looked good or even \'pretty\' in the lane. It seems that they are struggling, and some look like they are on po-go sticks. Just up and down, which would answer why \'bone remodeling\' and \'sclerosis\' is being diagnosed by vets on young horses.
I reiterate that this is not word of mouth, but have experienced with my own horses. For example, a notable three-year-old worked over the surface for the second time for a comeback, and came back with pressure in the ankles. X-Rays taken were negative, but again there was evidence of bone remodeling, and rough joints. Concussion damage on this track seems to be very evident in young bones.
We did our due diligence and checked with Pro-Ride\'s website and we found some interesting facts:
From http://www.prorideracing.com/overview.html
There are six major elements involved in installing a synthetic racing or training track. When all six elements are addressed fully and in relation to each other the track\'s installation and performance will be maximized. This list has been supplied by Ian Pearse, the founder and technical expert at Pro Ride Racing says the website.
Analyse the environmental conditions:
No track can be laid for long term success without careful consideration of the natural elements.
The track installer should consider for each time of year:
The historical average rainfall.
This is a fundamental consideration in designing the footing’s infiltration rate.
The temperature range re. the extremes of heat and cold.
This determines the binder viscosity dependence on temperature. Based on climatic conditions the most appropriate binder is manufactured using a viscosity dependence graph.
Natural wind conditions.
What is the prevailing direction and what is likely to be introduced to the surface?
The location of the track in relation to other tracks.
Identify the possibility of contamination from neighbouring grass tracks, sand tracks, and other organic materials such as walk on locations from stables.
Question whether there is any reason to think these conditions may change over time.
For example, will a new grandstand be built that may create a new wind tunnel?
Review the workload expectations for the surface:
Work closely with the facility’s management to clearly and comprehensively understand the expected workload the footing must support.
Will the surface be used for racing, training, or both?
How many individual races are planned during various time periods?
How many horses will be trained on a daily basis?
Will this be 12 months of the year or some interim period?
What time of day will the training / racing occur?
A training track with early morning training requires a different temperature focus on the viscosity range of the binder than a track with afternoon racing.
Developing a binder that suits both morning training and afternoon racing is the real key to successful synthetic track development.
Test material compositions:
There are different composition options depending on the analysis from points 1 and 2 above.
Pay very close attention to sand type selection.
Study and understand the sand sieve analysis. Sand granule size in relation to binder quantity and type is of the utmost importance.
Selecting clean, angular, washed sand with low silt and clay content is essential when providing footing stability with controlled infiltration rates.
High silt and clay content drastically reduces infiltration rates and can migrate downward to block drainage systems.
1% tolerance of silt and clay is typically appropriate.
Conduct a number of laboratory tests prior to the footing being established in the field to ascertain consistency in performance. Tests should include:
Confirmation of binder viscosity.
Strength of cohesion of binder to sand.
Analytical environmental report.
Vertical water infiltration tests.
Water retention rates.
Correct formulation; ‘laboratory to field’ >> sand = binder = fiber = rubber.
Establish similarities between initial sieve analysis and current supply of sand.
Surface hardness testing; Clegg Hammer testing and track rating.
Engineering of the track:
After the composition is confirmed a complete specification of the engineering of the track is approved. This will address and re-confirm key issues such as:
The final width and length of the new footing including walk offs and trail paths.
The sub-base drainage system being in good working order.
Inspect the installed base / drainage system for high and low spots.
Check the base cross falls are to specification.
A plan for ongoing maintenance:
Initial discussions regarding maintenance are reviewed and re-confirmed at this stage.
How often will the track be graded; daily or weekly?
What equipment will be required?
What additional rejuvenation materials will be required over time and at what cost?
How often will the rejuvenation take place?
Removal of organic matter is necessary on a daily basis.
FACT – all ssynthetic tracks require an ongoing maintenance program. (This is not me, but Ian Pearse\'s own website)
Contingency planning:
Weather conditions change. From the very beginning be clear about how the track will be managed under different condition
A point is made in the Pro-Ride racing overview,(easily followed by the link above), that the \'going\' or track rating for Pro-Ride is listed as good to dead. In my realm of \'goings\' is equal to a slow, or heavy racetrack in dirt terms.
I highlighted a few other sections about the Pro-Ride Overview:
The temperature range re. the extremes of heat and cold.
This determines the binder viscosity dependence on temperature. Based on climatic conditions the most appropriate binder is manufactured using a viscosity dependence graph
Very important here as the temperatures in Arcadia have ranged from the mid 30\'s to high to middle 70\'s for the first week. Freezing cold in the morning, little or no sun in the afternoon, specifically in the stretch run have affected the viscosity of the polymer blends. In my opinion, the polymers are hardening and freezing in the morning and do have enough sunlight in the stretch, specifically, to loosen up, thus, the track is hard and clumping under horse\'s feet. 1000 pound plus animal hitting the ground at 600 pound per square inch of pressure on clumped , hard, rocklike polymers. Result: Joint damage, bone damage, bone remodeling and sclerosis, in my opinion, based on my horses diagnosis (refer above).
Question whether there is any reason to think these conditions may change over time.
For example, will a new grandstand be built that may create a new wind tunnel?
Another point in the overview that caught my eye. The location of the grandstand directly affects the sunlight on the stretch run. Not enough sun or heat during the winter, as sun changes its path in the winter, and you have a colder, wetter base of the Pro-Ride surface. If you have spent any time at Santa Anita in January, February you know how cold that apron gets. Sometimes it can be 10 degrees colder and icier than the outside temperature. Steve Wood fought this on the main track for a decade, and Leif Dickinson , turf superintendent at Del Mar, showed me himself in 2002 at the height of his Santa Anita employment as turf course guru.
I spoke with Ron Charles after the races on December 29. \"We are going to power harrow on Tuesday (Dec. 30),\'\' he told me, \"we will see from there.\'\' He added. Ron was quite aware and motivated to do something to correct the problem.
So, we kept track this past week and found that the track slowed down some and there was no significant injuries through the week. The track was a + 8 (Eight 1/5ths of a second faster than par), on opening week. After power harrowing on Tuesday, December 30, the track slowed down + 5 (Five 1/5ths of a second faster than par). Hence, the track wasn\'t as hard this past week at the Great Race Place.
Also spoke to a very busy veterinarian, who is quite progressive and is employed by many high percentages barns at Santa Anita and Hollywood. \"I have seen a lot of spiral and hairline fractures.\'\' These injuries are often hard to diagnose as the hairline fractures take time to separate. \"You have to wait a week or so, and see if one shows up,\'\' she added, \"the advances we have made with nuclear scans have really helped us pinpoint the issues,\'\' some horses will show you signs of lameness, but the immediate pictures may not show breaks, and if rushed to the track soon they are in danger \'snapping one off on the track\'. The message was clear from our vet, there are underlying problems with these horses and if the tell tale signs of injury are not fully explored and diagnosed it could be the recipe for a tragic event. It all falls on the trainer, and staff to do the right thing with the horse.
Yes, the tracks have something to do with the injuries but we have to take into account the human role. We can go on and just rip Shapiro for his mandate on synthetics in California. You can cry out for a return to dirt, but to what extent is that an answer to the problem. What does it do? You call him out or call out for others that may have been involved. You feel good about attacking another human being and basically questioning his or her judgement....Great, you feel good, but you haven\'t accomplished a thing.
It\'s easy to criticize and second guess. We all know after the fact what should have been done or what shouldn\'t have been done. There are too many critics, mostly in the media, but they don\'t offer the solution. The solution can only be achieved by first understanding the problem.
If we don\'t understand the problem, or understand the nature of the injuries, we cannot find a solution. We have to be totally involved in the X\'s and O\'s of the game. We have to have an answer to the issue. What is wrong. We have a new article in the blood horse magazine that came out on January 5th. There are eyes and ears out there wanting to have answers.
My conclusion to the problem has been that Pro-Ride does not handle the cold, or freezing temperatures very well. I asked one Australian born and raised trainer about synthetic surfaces in his home country: \"We use synthetics for training only,\" he said, \'\'the synthetic surfaces home are made for heat, and rain\'\', he added, \'\'we don\'t get real cold temperatures even in the winter.\'\'
Pro-Ride has been made to handle the extreme heat and extreme rain, but not cold. The polymers that hold the track together are oil based. Have you ever put oil in the refrigerator?
The solution? Ian Pearse is back and trying to remedy the situation.
We, at Racingwithbruno, always throw our two cents in, and here are some thoughts:
How does salt keep the road from getting icy?(Lansing State Journal, February 1, 1995)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bits of salt are commonly dumped onto roads and sidewalks to prevent them from becoming icy.The salt acts in two ways. First, it helps prevent ice from forming in the first place. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature than pure water, so the salt helps prevent melting snow from refreezing.Second, the salt bits can help break up ice that has already formed. When a car or truck drives over the salt bits, the weight of the vehicle pushes them downward and backward. These physical forces crack and shatter the ice. The friction also melts the ice and snow, allowing more of the salt to dissolve.Sand and charcoal cinders are also used in some places to keep roads clear. But, they are generally not as effective as salt, because they do not significantly dissolve in the water.
How about salt in the pro-ride? De-ice the pro-ride. Maybe a little anti-freeze. You never know. Sometimes the simplest answer is the right answer.
The track is too hard. We have heard it from jockeys, from trainers, vets and the horses are telling you by their bones showing remodeling due to stress. Sometimes there are too many voices but there is lack of one person taking the bull by the horns and making a decision and \'living and dying by the sword\'. Too many media \'personalities\' go on the offensive and point fingers, but do not offer an alternative. We are quick to point out a problem, second guess, and even call people out, but do I never hear a solution? Nobody knows the real ins and outs of the problem, or how to fix it, but have an opinion about it!
The answer is change, go back to dirt, well, folks, dirt tears them up, too. Remember the Derby and Eight Belles or about the Aqueduct main track last month claiming Wonderin Boy and the career ending injury to Springside on the same fateful day. About the carnage we saw at Del Mar for a decade on that track. Dirt isn\'t the answer either.
The best answer and solution is to understand the problem and fix it. Ron Charles is looking for answers. Ian Pearse will be looking for answers.
I just hope we don\'t get more committees, or too many more discussions.
Like Nike says let\'s \"Just do it\".
\"Therefore, it is easy to speculate that if the temperatures hover around 35 to 40 degrees through the night in Arcadia, the stretch run is more likely to be 25 to 35 degrees, and possibly below freezing.\" -- Huh? I guess it is easy to speculate but how can a surface go below freezing if the air temperature is above freezing and there is no \"force\" below ground? Maybe they should install radiant heating under the surface, as the post noted -- it is easy to criticize.
Anyway, I do know the trainer of one of the horses that broke down on SA surface opening week had told its owner that the horse had only four or five races left in its career -- apparently it was only one race. The surface may or may not have been a factor in the case of this one horse, but for all we know, same with the other horses that were injured.
QuoteWith five breakdowns, including three fatalities, in the first five days of racing, Santa Anita's synthetic surface has again come under the microscope.
Which begs the question: why isn\'t the same scrutiny being applied to the breakdowns and fatalities on Aqueduct inner?
The surface at Santa Anita has had zero breakdowns in the morning for the past three months of workouts, from what I\'ve heard.
And one of the euthanasias was, unfortunately, a horse that clipped heels and went down. Had nothing to do with the track.
I find it interesting that all these problems seem an American thing - in other countries, this ongoing discussion doesn\'t happen. Turf countries, of course.
Does anyone know if the level of breakdowns in European flat track horses are on par with their North American counterparts and would Euro breakdown stats be relevant as an indicator to compare relative soundness or conformation issues in horses here and abroad ?
Probably because no one ever claimed dirt tracks were the answer to the breakdown issue.
No one ever claimed synthetic tracks would prevent all breakdowns (although that\'s what people incorrectly say)
BTW, several inches of fluffed up dirt is NOT a \"natural surface\".
Track maintenance of dirt, and the evolution of that, is the first attempt at a \"controlled, man-made\" consistent surface.
To say we shouldn\'t attempt to continue to improve upon that man-made surface is ridiculous, to my view.
Sighthound-
No one made any of the claims you just refuted...
The synthetic tracks are an experiment, and should have been billed as such. They may lead to good things, they may not.
The government mandate in California was a drastic overstep of government\'s role, and as the subject line suggests, a knee-jerk move.
The synthetics were billed as:
-virtually maintenance free
-able to handle inclement weather better than dirt
-a significant improvement in safety
Even if you exempt Santa Anita\'s cushion track from the discussion (could not drain liquid at all) they have barely delivered on 1/3 of that promise to date.
Not to mention the drop off in handle from people who don\'t feel comfortable betting the synths.
>> Sighthound- No one made any of the claims you just refuted...
Sure they have, countless times.
>> The synthetic tracks are an experiment, and should have been billed as such.
Synthetic tracks have been very successful in other countries, and come with a few years of history and use behind them before they were used in the US.
>> The synthetics were billed as:
>> -virtually maintenance free
>> -able to handle inclement weather better than dirt
>> -a significant improvement in safety
>> Even if you exempt Santa Anita\'s cushion track from the discussion (could >> not drain liquid at all) they have barely delivered on 1/3 of that promise to date.
I\'m willing to give the first installation at SA a pass, and look only at the track once it was considered installed correctly.
In fact, I\'m willing to drop SA from the discussion entirely, and look only at other tracks in the US and the world who have had synthetic surfaces installed.
The synthetic surfaces have delivered on ALL those promises. Please post your facts to the contrary.
>> Not to mention the drop off in handle from people who don\'t feel comfortable >> betting the synths.
Please quote the before/after handle data on that for us, please, so we can look at it (again)
Are a \'few\' years of low-end racing in Europe a definitive test? The Euros don\'t contest any important races on synth. I asked one European trainer last summer if he thought synthetics were a good surface to conduct top class racing, prove sires, and determine champions. His answer was, \"I don\'t know. I guess you\'re going to find out.\"
Will a few years in Europe tell us how the synths will hold up to 5 or 10 years of year-round Amercan racing under various climates?
You cannot honestly believe that the synthetic surfaces have delivered on ALL their promises. You think it\'s gone that flawless? Look at what is happening right now at Turfway, Santa Anita, and Golden Gate, where injuries are up considerably and tracks are struggling to diagnose and tweak what were supposed to be low-maintenance surfaces.
They\'ve had to make serious changes to many of the tracks that got synthetic surfaces, some of them several times. Amount of wax, grade of wax, non-porous base, too much sand, kick back, speed dulling, uniformity from morning to afternoon, soft tissue injuries, puzzling runs of catastrophic injuries, the issues go on...It\'s still a learning process.
As for the wagering decline, because of other variables (such as the poor economy), there\'s no way to know exactly how much action synthetics have cost the game in decreased bettor confidence. But handle is down over $1-billion this year.
The single biggest bettor I know has only bet Santa Anita and Del Mar twice since the original installation of Cushion Track and Poly. He used to be a huge fan of So Cal racing. His Breeders\' Cup handle was down 80% this year because he didn\'t want to feel like he was guessing on Pro-Ride. There\'s a lot of guys who feel that way. How many people have increased their net wagering because we got synthetics?
Again, I\'m all for testing the synthetics. They have some potential. But the government mandate in Cal was a knee jerk reaction by the CHRB/state government. We still don\'t know now how good/bad the synths can be for US racing. It\'s an ongoing experiment.
Finally, was dirt really the problem that needed fixing or are there other variables? What if the money spent on the synthetics would have instead been used to install new bases, cushion and dirt surfaces?
QuoteLook at what is happening right now at Turfway, Santa Anita, and Golden Gate, where injuries are up considerably and tracks are struggling to diagnose and tweak what were supposed to be low-maintenance surfaces.
Give us the injury figures you have for Turfway, SA, and Golden Gate, showing \"injuries are up considerably\" over dirt at those three tracks.
I\'ll be quite happy to change my mind if you simply show it\'s true.
Also pass on the info you have about the lack of decrease in maintenance time and costs for the surfaces at the various tracks.
QuoteAs for the wagering decline, because of other variables (such as the poor economy), there\'s no way to know exactly how much action synthetics have cost the game in decreased bettor confidence.
Then why say, \"drop in handle due to synthetics\" if that\'s only a guess?
Lots of quotes from the meeting yesterday at Santa Anita:
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/January/07/Trainers-voice-concern-over-Santa-Anitas-synthetic-surface.aspx (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/January/07/Trainers-voice-concern-over-Santa-Anitas-synthetic-surface.aspx)
Current Turfway meeting fatalities:
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/January/06/On-track-fatalities-double-at-Turfway-Park-meet.aspx (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/January/06/On-track-fatalities-double-at-Turfway-Park-meet.aspx)
Golden Gate situation:
http://www.drf.com/news/article/100889.html (http://www.drf.com/news/article/100889.html)
The bottom line on all of this is that synth has done very little, if anything, to better the sport in a meaningful way for gamblers, owners, trainers or the animals.Betting has not had any quantum leap at synth tracks and the breakdown/infirmary problem has not improved dramatically so far.
What was the justification to rush to completely changing, instead of just improving/tweaking those existing surfaces.
The \"alarming\" breakdown rate was virtually the same for many years(according to NYRA).Barbaro\'s breakdown on National TV launched the knee jerk public relations initiative by the disingenuous empty suits. The same empty suits did very little to deal with years of illegal juice which was/is a substantial contributor to breakdowns,imo.
When synths first came out,I said it was a garbage surface.As a player,I\'m still of that opinion.
Mike
Kind of dated now but still germane to the discussion at hand.
http://blog-rtr.thoroughbredtimes.com/2008/12/four-days-four-breakdowns-on-pro-ride.html
EdD
Ill, I\'ve read the current internet discussions and articles.
Those articles don\'t support the blanket statements made about all synthetic tracks (injury rates have increased, handle has decreased, track maintenance costs have increased).
SA is obviously a special situation, look at Turfway, Kee, Hollywood, Presque Isle - good comparison stats at those tracks over the past few years.
One can\'t deny or ignore the SA track has just spent a terrific three months injury-free in training hours, with horsemen loving the track.
The current problem is probably related (guessing by what people from the track have said) to the high number of horses going over the surface now (track maintenance).
SA problems now obviously doesn\'t mean all synthetics are crap.
SA likely has a volume problem, which can hopefully be rectified with track maintenance alterations.
Will it cost that track to have increased maintenance costs over dirt when all is said and done? We\'ll have to see. If it will, then rip it out if they want.
It\'s fine people don\'t like the various synthetic tracks (for reasons I find baffling regarding handicapping concerns, but everyone is an individual)
But there is no place in the ongoing discussion for broad, all-encompassing statements about synthetics regarding injury, costs, handle, etc that are simply unsupported by reality.
Yes, four breakdowns.
One was a horse that clipped heels and fell, resulting in euthanasia. Not a synthetic surface track problem.
So three breakdowns. How many breakdowns in previous years for training and first days of this meet, pre- Pro-Ride?
How many breakdowns at Aqueduct inner? At Gulfstream? Compared to previous meets/years?
My only contribution to this conversation (I hope) is that it would have been nice if those questions were answered BEFORE all the tracks rushed to put in synthetics at the same time, instead of trying one first, keeping stats, and getting the kinks out.
That\'s aside from putting in a whole bunch of different ones which increased handicapping variables exponentially.
If anyone is interested in playing SA, I\'m starting to get a handle on it. Treat it like turf, don\'t assume that any horse that has run (or worked) well over anything but turf, Pro-Ride, or (maybe) Poly can handle it. Would that I had known that before the BC.
Meetings out there about the milkshake guys starting up again, and a new (and very expensive, supposedly $800 an ounce) drug being used.
Customer disquiet has nothing to do with health and safety and everything to do with loss of the dirt bias.
Dear Dr. Beth,
As with many in this industry, they work off emotion and history and never ever use science and real data to determine a result/cause effect/etc truly exists.Most players are angle players and this is the angle they see. Most folks don\'t want to take the time, or have the patience to wait for a real data analysis to be performed. The hard part is that the data is so parsed it\'s hard to get it all into the right hands to perform a real data analysis.
If and when i can get a break away from work, if you can get me access to the data, we can perform all of the analysis needed to see if we have true correlations or just a set of circumstantial evidence.
Nice Win for Richwood Silver the other Day.!!!
NCT
From the Santa Anita web site.
Ron Ellis in Turf races 3 starts and 2 wins;
Julio Canani Mdns/Claimers on the main course 4 starts and 3 wins;
Mike Puype on Main Course (including Friday) 10 starts and 5 wins;
Richard Mandella Route Races 3 starts and 3 wins;
Canani no runners today,
Ellis 1 mcl runner today on the main track,
Puype 2 runners today, 1 Mdn in a Turf Route, 1 mcl on the main track,
Mandella 1 mdn in a sprint on the main track, and an also-eligible at a mile on the turf.