polytrack at TP

[Michael D.]

any thoughts out there on this new surface? i have not watched too many races, but looks as though prior turf form is holding up well on the polytrack. beau dare paid $18.20 in winning the filly race today. she had one slow dirt race, and one decent turf race. stream cat paid $7.00 in winning the juvenile. he had one slow dirt race and one decent turf race. shaniko was a lock in the big race, but ball four, a pure turf horse, came in second at 45-1. salford city, another pure turf horse with no dirt breeding, came in fourth to round out a $6g super. sheer luck, a turf horse (but with dirt breeding), came in second in the f&m race at 10-1...... if this new surface holds up well in bad weather, i have to imagine it is going to be a huge hit.

[sighthound]

I don\'t know if it is optical illusion or not, but the horses do look like they are \"bounding\" over it.  I have not run over to Turfway yet to see it in person, and want to see it on a rainy day.  Haven\'t heard anything bad about it yet in the press.  

Anybody with horses in training at Keeneland or now at Turfway?

I posted my impressions of last night\'s card at Turfway in the \"Now I\'ve seen it all thread\" - maybe you have the key to handicapping there - look to turf form.

[razzle]

Michael,Sighthound,

Interesting post.  I just attributed the unusual successes in those races to the \"B.Ann Cone\" juice.  It\'s too early to tell for sure, but I think if Dr. Catlin were at TP yesterday, those \"grass horse move-ups\" would disappear.  Sheer Luck, on my info, was just as good, possibly better, on dirt, as was Ball Four.  

[richiebee]

Expect a post soon from Tesio the Clown, predicting that Shaniko will be the first great sire of Polytrack horses

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

lol

There is preference for surface in the genetic blueprint and that includes respective tracks.

Shaniko may throw some Polytrackers, but the genetic maps won\'t be enough, his get will also need the requisite chemical reagents to Polytrack.

[Michael D.]

 
- stop the slot construction at Aqu
- sell the Aqu property to whoever has the money to buy it
- construct a state of the art slot facility at Bel
- tear up the inner turf at Bel, replace it with poly
- start winter racing at bel, to be run over the polytrack

[richiebee]

Good idea.

The drawbacks: Belmont (part of it) would have to be enclosed and climate controlled. Larger drawback you are displacing about 1200 horses.

Its great to know that after FOUR DAYS AT LATONIA, POLYTRACK is the answer to all that ills racing. Short fields due to weather related scratches. In the back of our minds we somehow think this surface can make us more profitable as handicappers. Horses will all of a sudden become sounder (they just BOUNCE off the surface, I\'ve heard it said... interesting choice of words considering the forum). How will horses react when returning to conventional surfaces? The Dr. Alldays will be relegated to small animal veterinary practice in Westchester.

I\'d like to see a more extensive sample before we stamp PTRACK as the genuine article. If it can save racing, I will carpet my home with it.

I knew I would react like this and tried to restrain myself. Read the news .. racing facilities are at risk all over the country. We would probably be better off without some of them, but there is a lot of history in Maryland, at Hollywood, at Bay Meadows, and certainly at Aqueduct.

Probably a better idea to replace the Inner Tube with PTRACK. I don\'t know how many more years slots would be delayed if they were to be switched to Belmont, but New York State needs to have slots in place... somewhere... when the bidding starts for the Racing franchise sometime in 07.

[Michael D.]

Jerry,
could you get rid of the posts on this string that get off the subject. it\'s an important one, and i would like to hear your views and those of others who have some knowledge on the subject.....

richie,
some good points about bel/aqu. i just tossed out an idea, looking for feedback. if nyra is going to committ 100% to polytrack, they definitely need to get an idea of how it reacts to snow. the surface has been around in crappy weather in europe for years though. one thing we all can agree on though - ny winter racing in its \'04/\'05 form will not be able to compete with GP in any way, shape, or form.

 

[richiebee]

Michael:

      Winter racing at NYRA is not intended to compete with Gulfstream. Its true purpose is really to support NY Breeding industry. Winter racing at AQ is an acquired taste and not for everyone.

      I have been merciless in my criticism of Stronach, but I read in Blood Horse that he turned Palm Meadows into a camp for Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and is already setting up facilities for these people after they have to move out of Palm Meadows. Good job, Mr. Frank.

      Sorry I got off (Poly)track. Going to bet some NYRA.

[asfufh]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1126267349095_21/?hub=CanadaAM

[bdhsheets]

Nice article on Frank. He hasn\'t forgotten his roots.

Thanks.