Thanks, Rachel, For Writing Synthetic's Obit

[Jeff Mende]

Thanks to Rachel Alexandra, the wonder filly of the century, for insuring the end of synthetics in American racing.

The corporate, downsized, mainstream dope media, as famous for their lack of imagination and originaility as they are addicted to the betting windows, will now start beating the dummy-drums for a Rachel-Zenyatta matchup.

Once Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen rebuff them with practicality - Rachel needs a rest of at least eight weeks after an exhausting Woodward - the media will begin its onslaught on synthetics.

Rachel's absence in the Breeders' Cup will be glaring, regrettable - full of anger and emotion.

And, of course, blame.

Over the next two months, with increasing frequency, Rachel's lack of participation at Santa Anita Recyclables Inc. will become story number one.

Sometimes, justice comes by default.

[andymays]

I can only hope this helps in getting rid of synthetic surfaces in California.

[DeanT]

PA,

Can you start a new forum area reserved solely for bashing track surfaces :)

[uncbossfan]

I can only hope this helps getting rid of synthetic surfaces in California.

Does anybody know how much $$ was spent putting in these new surfaces? (This is an actual question) With tracks cutting dates, cutting purses, and a poor economy, I am guessing no chance in hell they switch back anytime soon.

[Speed Figure]

I think it was about 40 million!! :D

[CincyHorseplayer]

PA,

Can you start a new forum area reserved solely for bashing track surfaces :)

Andymays already has a Jupiter-like subject on the topic revolving around the Pace Advantage sun in this galaxy.No need!:D

[andymays]

Andymays already has a Jupiter-like subject on the topic revolving around the Pace Advantage sun in this galaxy.No need!:D


Believe it or not I sympathize with Dean! :)

[Imriledup]

If a horse is managed properly, gets a month rest or more between starts, is treated like a stakes star and only runs when he or she is 100 % sound, than there would be very few breakdowns.


But, we have owners and trainers running these cheapies too often and that is why horses break down, not because of the surface.

We changed the surfaces because trainers and owners continue to run less than 100 pct sound horses. We thought that business as usual could remain the same if we got a 'softer' surface. But, it backfired. It didn't work.

[Valuist]

I can only hope this helps in getting rid of synthetic surfaces in California.

Why limit it to California? Once upon a time, two of my favorite main tracks to bet were Keeneland and Arlington.

[singletax]

Which goes away first? Both were put in to improve the game but I fail to see the improvement. Does HANA have a position on synthetics?

[andymays]

Which goes away first? Both were put in to improve the game but I fail to see the improvement. Does HANA have a position on synthetics?


Keenland was rated #1 last year. :rolleyes:

Having said that it was rated #1 because of the numbers like low takeout and large field size. The surface wasn't a factor in the rating.

If I had my way the surface would be a big negative factor. ;)

[David-LV]

It might be prudent to point out that if the tracks who have become poly or synthetic had put that money into the science of improving the traditional racing surface, they could have probably identified and corrected any fundamental flaws in the natural surfaces that cause injury. A study on impact, stability, traction, torque could surely be cheaper than the 10 million it takes to make a surface synthetic.

The misrepresentations about upkeep costs, longevity etc. are another fly in the ointment.

Get ready for an announcement from the CHRB concerning synthetic surfaces which will be coming shortly.

_______
David-LV

[andymays]

It might be prudent to point out that if the tracks who have become poly or synthetic had put that money into the science of improving the traditional racing surface, they could have probably identified and corrected any fundamental flaws in the natural surfaces that cause injury. A study on impact, stability, traction, torque could surely be cheaper than the 10 million it takes to make a surface synthetic.

The misrepresentations about upkeep costs, longevity etc. are another fly in the ointment.

Get ready for an announcement from the CHRB concerning synthetic surfaces which will be coming shortly.

_______
David-LV



Look at this from this morning! You can't make it up!

There has got to be a reason for statements like this and it has to be "stock options" in Polytrack!


More unbelievable quotes from Joe Harper and Rick Arthur!

Jeff Nahill: HORSE RACING: Del Mar officials disturbed by death toll, but still have faith in Polytrack

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/equestrian/racing/article_76e60435-8242-51d3-9bc9-1a7debc5b864.html

Excerpt:

Still, Harper insists he's "very happy" with Polytrack, which, according to manufacturer Martin Collins Surfaces & Footings LLC, is a synthetic layer of recycled polypropylene fibers, recycled rubber and silica sand.

"(We) really are," Harper said. "I wasn't that upset with the (dirt) surface (in 2006). I just thought the more we found out, this Polytrack was much more forgiving."


Excerpt:

Dr. Rick Arthur, equine director for the California Horse Racing Board, said Del Mar's surface is safe.

"You will have a hard time believing this," Arthur said, but in terms of racing fatalities per start, Del Mar's main track is better than its historical average to 2004. "They are better off with this surface than they were with dirt. Del Mar is a very intense place to race. People want to win races there. Everyone is trying hard, maybe too hard."

Excerpt:

Deaths and injuries are down, he added: "The statistics are supporting it."

Excerpt:

Arthur said the fact remains that fatalities are down at Del Mar from 2006.

[David-LV]

Look at this from this morning! You can't make it up!

More unbelievable quotes from Joe Harper and Rick Arthur!

Jeff Nahill: HORSE RACING: Del Mar officials disturbed by death toll, but still have faith in Polytrack

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/equestrian/racing/article_76e60435-8242-51d3-9bc9-1a7debc5b864.html

Excerpt:

Still, Harper insists he's "very happy" with Polytrack, which, according to manufacturer Martin Collins Surfaces & Footings LLC, is a synthetic layer of recycled polypropylene fibers, recycled rubber and silica sand.

"(We) really are," Harper said. "I wasn't that upset with the (dirt) surface (in 2006). I just thought the more we found out, this Polytrack was much more forgiving."


Excerpt:

Dr. Rick Arthur, equine director for the California Horse Racing Board, said Del Mar's surface is safe.

"You will have a hard time believing this," Arthur said, but in terms of racing fatalities per start, Del Mar's main track is better than its historical average to 2004. "They are better off with this surface than they were with dirt. Del Mar is a very intense place to race. People want to win races there. Everyone is trying hard, maybe too hard."

Excerpt:

Deaths and injuries are down, he added: "The statistics are supporting it."

Excerpt:

Arthur said the fact remains that fatalities are down at Del Mar from 2006.

This group of no nothings will say anything to defend the biggest mistake ever made in the ruination of California racing.

It is time to call for the racing public to step up and boycott these California synthetic surfaces and force this group of short sighted officials into doing the right thing and return these tracks to traditional dirt.
_______
David-LV

[andymays]

This group of no nothings will say anything to defend the biggest mistake ever made in the ruination of California racing.

It is time to call for the racing public to step up and boycott these California synthetic surfaces and force this group of short sighted officials into doing the right thing and return these tracks to traditional dirt.
_______
David-LV



David, as someone who follows this everday it's getting to the point where I'm scared to look at the news because they never stop spinning the truth.

What's even more scary is that nobody except a handfull of people like myself and some others on the Board like you call them on it. I don't have the resources to fight these guys but I hope someone out there does.

This would be a winning issue for HANA if they took it on!

[Robert Goren]

PA,

Can you start a new forum area reserved solely for bashing track surfaces :) My wish... Under Quick Links... New Posts (Exclude off topics and surface debates)

[FenceBored]

Look at this from this morning! You can't make it up!

Jeff Nahill: HORSE RACING: Del Mar officials disturbed by death toll, but still have faith in Polytrack

http://www.nctimes.com/sports/equestrian/racing/article_76e60435-8242-51d3-9bc9-1a7debc5b864.html



Andy,

Looks to me like this reporter got confused about the Annual reports, namely the double reporting of 2007 meet numbers in the 2007 Annual Report (with data through 11/10/06-11/16/07) and then again (with lower numbers) in the 2008 Annual Report (with data from 7/1/07-6/30/08). He seems to include that first set as his 2006 numbers. He then lists the average for 2002-2006 as 15.6 deaths race/train. Adjusting for that I still get an average of 15.8 from the figures from the 2003-2007 Annual Reports, but hey, what's 0.2 horses per year amongst friends. Leaving out the category of 'other' deaths, the figures (race,training) are:

'96 13 (06,07)
'97 13 (07,06)
'98 14 (11,03)
'99 16 (07,03)
'00 12 (06,06)
'01 12 (04,08)
'02 13 (04,09)
'03 11 (08,03)
'04 17 (10,07)
'05 14 (07,07)
'06 19 (10,09)
'07 18 (08,10) from 2007 Annual Report
'07 12 (06,06) from 2008 Annual Report
'08 11 (06,05) from this morning's story
'09 13 (05,08) reported

The figure I get from the 2002-2006 Annual Reports covering the Delmar seasons of 2002-2006 is: fatalities reported as resulting from Racing 39 and Training 35 for Total 74, thus an average of 14.8. If you go back to the '97 meet and generate the full 10 year numbers ending in 2006 you get 74 Race, 67 Training, 141 Total, 14.1 Avg ('97-'01 -- 35+32=67 [avg 13.4]). For the three Polytrack years you get, depending on which '07 number you use, either 36 fatalities avg 12, or 42 fatalities avg 14.The Polytrack race fatality numbers seem in line with the dirt track race fatalities in the mid-nineties and again in the early 200x years. These are hardly "unequivocal" numbers as Dr. Arthur states, just take '01-'03 figures and compare those to the '07-'09 figures (using the lower '07 number).

[andymays]

Andy,

Looks to me like this reporter got confused about the Annual reports, namely the double reporting of 2007 meet numbers in the 2007 Annual Report (with data through 11/10/06-11/16/07) and then again (with lower numbers) in the 2008 Annual Report (with data from 7/1/07-6/30/08). He seems to include that first set as his 2006 numbers. He then lists the average for 2002-2006 as 15.6 deaths race/train. Adjusting for that I still get an average of 15.8 from the figures from the 2003-2007 Annual Reports, but hey, what's 0.2 horses per year amongst friends. Leaving out the category of 'other' deaths, the figures (race,training) are:

'96 13 (06,07)
'97 13 (07,06)
'98 14 (11,03)
'99 16 (07,03)
'00 12 (06,06)
'01 12 (04,08)
'02 13 (04,09)
'03 11 (08,03)
'04 17 (10,07)
'05 14 (07,07)
'06 19 (10,09)
'07 18 (08,10) from 2007 Annual Report
'07 12 (06,06) from 2008 Annual Report
'08 11 (06,05) from this morning's story
'09 13 (05,08) reported

The figure I get from the 2002-2006 Annual Reports covering the Delmar seasons of 2002-2006 is: fatalities reported as resulting from Racing 39 and Training 35 for Total 74, thus an average of 14.8. If you go back to the '97 meet and generate the full 10 year numbers ending in 2006 you get 74 Race, 67 Training, 141 Total, 14.1 Avg ('97-'01 -- 35+32=67 [avg 13.4]). For the three Polytrack years you get, depending on which '07 number you use, either 36 fatalities avg 12, or 42 fatalities avg 14.The Polytrack race fatality numbers seem in line with the dirt track race fatalities in the mid-nineties and again in the early 200x years. These are hardly "unequivocal" numbers as Dr. Arthur states, just take '01-'03 figures and compare those to the '07-'09 figures (using the lower '07 number).


Thanks a bunch for taking the time. :ThmbUp:

I'm pretty sure, especially in 2007 at Del Mar they weren't counting the ones that were vanned off and later euthanized but I have no way of proving it other than my memory of that time.

Anyway as you can tell I don't trust these guys at all and believe many of them have a personal financial interest in keeping Polytrack.

For me their statements from the article are astonishing considering what's happened this year.

Everyone needs to remember that the base on the dirt track was 60 plus years old and the Poly has a new base. Also the vet inspections in the mornings and afternoons were nowhere near what they are today.

I guess everyone need to make up their own minds regarding California Racing.

[dansan]

I got an idea just have all races on turf!!!!!!!!!

[46zilzal]

As much as I would LIKE to agree with you, it won't happen soon: too much money is behind the synthocrap.