SAX main track - riddle me this

[DJofSD]

In general, what's wrong with the following:

7th Race - Santa Anita Park - Friday, February 22nd, 2008
ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $57,000. FOR THREE YEAR OLDS WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR OPTIONAL CLAIMING PRICE OF $80,000. Weight, 121 lbs. Non-winners Of Two Races At A Mile Or Over Since December 10 Allowed 2 lbs. Such a race since January 10 Allowed 4 lbs. (Maiden and Claiming races for $62,500 or less not considered). (04:07 PM) (10)

The above is an example of a continuing error.

Hint, hint -- it's been a topic of discussion lately.

[Premier Turf Club]

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt ??

[DJofSD]

You got it in one try.

[rastajenk]

Should it say, "dirt-like substance?"

Maybe that's the way the Poly Theists can win the battle of perceptions, by appropriating the term "dirt" to mean any non-turf particle-based compound; just keeping calling it dirt in spite of the purists.

[The Bit]

I'm glad I got the answer before I started looking really hard.

[Southieboy]

Looks like the heavens are about ready to open up at SA

[kenwoodallpromos]

"Non-winners Of Two Races At A Mile Or Over ***Since December 10 Allowed 2 lbs. Such a race ***since January 10 Allowed 4 lbs."?
Does the more recent winner get lighter weight?

[njcurveball]

Non-winners Of Two Races At A Mile Or Over Since December 10 Allowed 2 lbs. Such a race since January 10 Allowed 4 lbs.

2 wins versus 1. Such a race is trainer speak for non winners of one race at a mile or over.

Jim

[RonTiller]

The official race conditions from Equibase start at "FOR THREE YEAR OLDS WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 OTHER THAN..." The preamble "ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING. 1 1/16 Mile Dirt. Purse $57,000." is a header created by whoever is selling the data.

You don't say where this came from but I suspect the DRF or BRIS. If this is the case, its not part of the PULL THE SYNTHETIC WOOL OVER YOUR EYES conspiracy. Its either a decision by the data provider to call synthetic surfaces "dirt" or an oversight. If this is from an official Equibase track program, then it might be a track decision to print the surface as "dirt" rather than "synthetic." We use the word "synthetic" on our headers, not "dirt."

You might be interested to know that Turfway is now writing conditions for synthetics:
FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE ON A SYNTHETIC SURFACE.

If the originator of the Santa Anita header you quote also calls Turfway races "dirt," that would be an awkward juxtaposition indeed.

Ron Tiller
HDW