TGJB/Byron King/Polytrack

[RICH]

Straight from the horse owners mouth, I think that says it all, case closed.

[davidrex]

Bobphilo,

Please forward any and all damning evidence Peter Angelos and I\'ll personaly guaratee you a finders\' fee.
Petes\' a class action kind a guy who came within a hair of buying a Trotter track just outside D.C.

[bobphilo]

Interestingly enough, when Musselburgh Racecourse in Scotland announced plans to switch to polytrack, some of the locals tried to block them because of supposed health concerns claiming the horses hooves would churn up silica dust. They got nowhere becuse polytrack and it\'s components meet all US and European environmental standards.
Actually, traditional sand-based tracks and beaches have just as much if not greater risk from silica. If anything, polytrack should be safer in that respect since all particles are coated with wax so it doesn\'t produce the microscopic dust which has to get into the aveoli (air sacs) of the lungs to cause silicosis.
I don\'t see much grounds for law suits due to health hazzards here.  

Bob  

[NoCarolinaTony]

Bob,

I personaly have more concern for microscopic ethylene based fibers than I do the silica as it (Silica) is non hazordous in its purest form. However there is a strong pushback by the EPA lately on Nanoparticle industry so what may be allowed today may become regulated in the near future as more is learned.

NC Tony

[marcus]

One day perhaps they\'ll be stats for Dirt to Poly / Poly to Turf angles etc . On an unrelated subject , NYRA has got to take care of business and make the land deal happen @ Aqu , merge w/selected OTBs on a limited basis if that is what is required , but should not sell or aution any paintings or artwork which reside ( or intended to ) at the track . The auctioning of artwork by NYRA raise money is totally hogwash . A reduction of work force at the upper management level and executive level by about 1/3 would save quite a bit of money and probably aid in streamlining and implementing more sensable coherant policies and incentives for both the short and long term success of NY Racing .  

[bobphilo]

I think someday polytrack, or something similar, will replace dirt the way synthetic surfaces have replaced the old cinder surfaces of track and field - and the sooner the better. I know as a runner, I greatly prefered the new surfaces. I also think there still will be enough other factors affecting the varient to keep the figure makers busy.
I agree about the classic old paintings remaining at the track. However I think Albany ought to allow NYRA to sell some of the land around Aqueduct to stave off bankruptcy. A few luxury condos would probably improve the crumby old neighborhood, as long as they don\'t mess up what\'s left of the natural environment.

Bob