Track Surfaces

[RacingFan1992]

Whenever I look at the conditions of a race I have always wondered is there a big a difference between a dirt track and synthetic. Also are there different types of dirt tracks and synthetic tracks as well as turf tracks, meaning is there a standard that a track surface must be made of like a certain type of grass for a turf course or a certain mix of sand/dirt for a dirt track. Does the track surface differ from Belmont to Churchill to Pimlico to other dirt tracks.

[Tom]

Big differences track to track.
Poly and dirt are not the same at all.
CD is very unlike Aqueduct.

Horses for courses is real.

[Some_One]

Big differences track to track.
Poly and dirt are not the same at all.
CD is very unlike Aqueduct.

Horses for courses is real.

Agreed, yet people are still shocked a horse who runs a 95 at on the Aqu inner can't break 80 at CD for example.

[lamboguy]

change of surfaces has to be the equalizer in this game.

i have seen thousands of horses in my life that couldn't run a step on dirt, put them on turf and they look like champions.

the thing about it is that before a horse actually changes surfaces you really don't know how they are going to perform.