Woodbine decided to go with tapeta in switch

[cutchemist42]

Thoughts?

[Zaf]

Seems to have held up very well at PID and GG. Probably the artificial surface with the best track record.

Z

[v j stauffer]

I'm a big fan of Tapeta. Works very well at GGF.

[Some_One]

I don't think there is anything really wrong with poly other then for some reason it's no good in warm weather climates.

[outofthebox]

This makes Michael Dickonson a very happy man...

[Tom]

I thought there current track was great.
Not going to be my #1 track with a surface switch.:bang:

[RacingFan1992]

And what's wrong with dirt?

[satrabyk]

And what's wrong with dirt?

That would make too much sense or should I say cents. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that many large bettors have no interest betting races on artificial surfaces........ WHAT IDIOTS !!!!!!

[letswastemoney]

There's nothing wrong with Tapeta, but the same kind of horses run on turf and synthetic. It starts to get repetitive seeing turf style races throughout the entire card.

[Some_One]

That would make too much sense or should I say cents. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that many large bettors have no interest betting races on artificial surfaces........ WHAT IDIOTS !!!!!!

How much did handle rise at the Keeneland fall meet last year? Their first with dirt.

[Frost king]

The handle declined at Keeneland by 12%, since installing the dirt. The only advantage about poly, is that field size is not decimated, when they are off the turf or when the main comes up sloppy. It is all about field size, and Woodbine has run all the studies for everybody else in the industry to copy.

[castaway01]

That would make too much sense or should I say cents. They refuse to acknowledge the fact that many large bettors have no interest betting races on artificial surfaces........ WHAT IDIOTS !!!!!!

They already have an artificial surface, so why would switching to a different one make a difference? Woodbine has been quite successful with polytrack and it certainly hasn't hurt their handle or their field size. They're 15th in field size, but keep in mind that some of those tracks ahead of them run all-turf meets or are in temperate climates. For that matter, Turfway is 5th in field size and they have an artificial surface too. Woodbine runs a very long meet in Canada, not a summer meet in balmy temperatures. If there's anyplace that an artificial surface makes sense, it's there.

[Tom]

I prefer WOs current poly surface to any dirt track, bar none.

[dilanesp]

And what's wrong with dirt?

Not as safe. Not as consistent. Harder to maintain Gets muddy when it rains. Less attractive for turf horses and Euro shippers.

I mean, it isn't as though the reasons why tracks shifted from dirt to Poly in the first place have gone away. Long term, you can look at what has happened in track and field and football, and one has to think that eventually the surfaces are going to get better and better and slowly replace dirt at a lot of tracks.

[SandyW]

Not as safe. Not as consistent. Harder to maintain Gets muddy when it rains. Less attractive for turf horses and Euro shippers.

I mean, it isn't as though the reasons why tracks shifted from dirt to Poly in the first place have gone away. Long term, you can look at what has happened in track and field and football, and one has to think that eventually the surfaces are going to get better and better and slowly replace dirt at a lot of tracks.

We have gone down that road before and it was a big failure. I don't see the tracks that switched back to dirt ever thinking about going the artifical route again.

[biggestal99]

[/b]

We have gone down that road before and it was a big failure. I don't see the tracks that switched back to dirt ever thinking about going the artifical route again.

A failure? equine deaths are down at tracks with synthetics.

Reductions in horses deaths are good, right?

Allan (happy about the switch to Tapeta)

[stu]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.

[VeryOldMan]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.
Interesting document - thanks for the post.

[MOG4023]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.

Thx Stu - good read

[Aner]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.

Fascinating to read about all the thought and science that went into the Tapeta decision. I have a new appreciation for the the officials at Woodbine.

[biggestal99]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.

Thanks stu, very informative and very comrehensive. Interesting they included keeneland stats regarding reduced field sizes and wagering when they switched.

Allan

[classhandicapper]

That was a good read. Thanks

[Canarsie]

Woodbine Track Decision Criteria (http://issuu.com/wegpublications/docs/thoroughbred_main_track_surface_dec/34?e=15929186/11816569)

As Woodbine's Racing Secretary, I thought that I would share this rigorous document.

I don't know if there is a track from top to bottom that communicates better with it's customers than WEG.

Nice read and I hope you and many others get a raise. Lots of employees really work hard there. In fact many tracks would be better off trying to emulate the Woodbine work ethic.

[appistappis]

now if they would just give us the 20cent supers at all the tracks we play and some sort of competitive rebate. I won't hold my breath.