All you have to look at is the dollars spent on the maintenance on Poly vs the maintenance of the old dirt surface. And again, the surface needs to be tested. And the only way to test is to race on it during the year. Turfway and Keeneland knew this before they laid the new surface. I am not sure why people have a problem with testing it.

Please point out the article in which it states that Turfway is going to be a "test" track for Polytrack. I'd like to see that.

I am sure I will be able to find it someplace. Let me do some research on it tonight when I get home.

If I remember correctly they were trying to find a way to slow down the track. The changed the combination of the surface and actually watered it more. In my opinion, if you are going to use a synthetic surface you almost need two different surfaces. One surface for the winter and a second surface for the spring and fall meets.

Right euro, thats called inner and outter track, they do it in NY.

I actually like the concept quite a bit. I wish more tracks would adopt such a system. But money and space is always an issue.

Tear up the poly, put down 2 dirt tracks, one thats winterized, and a standard dirt...I like that Idea. I dont like any idea that has to do with spandex, rubber tires, and old shag carpets

Euro,

They never said that about poly -- they led people to believe that it would work anywhere and also work equally well with no maintenance in all climates.

Now they are fighting to cover their ass.

Again, they are not the professionals that racing should have hired -- and we are seeing the results.

It's time you pulled your head out of the sand -- er I mean poly -- and recognized the problems. The problems will not go away by covering them up. It's just going to make it worse for other tracks in the future.

Go sell someone a stock in a company and tell that person, "this stock is virtually guaranteed to be a winner." And when that stock tanks you better expect to be sued or possibly do some jail time.

You can't use the word "virtually" as an excuse.

Ask people how they feel about betting on a "test" surface at a "test" track.

They aren't betting "test" dollars or "monopoly money". It's real hard earned cash.

where is Sumitas

Poly
 

Q: How does the Polytrack surface react to extreme hot or cold temperatures?

A: This surface has been tested in Europe prior to its North American introduction. In Europe, it remained consistent in temperatures as low as minus 14 degrees Celsius (7 Fahrenheit) (and in excess of 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit).


HAHAHAH, yeah right. I wonder what ran on that track they used to test . How did they test in such extreme temps. If they did why is turfway freezing, uneven, and kickback is brutal

One other thing, do you think Marty Collins, or his company who you just linked me to would say anything bad about polytrack? Would you say something bad about a product you were selling

we're not the only one's talking about Poly

"Years ago I started thinking for the first time that we watch and shoe horses on pretty rigid footing, simply because in deep sand it's hard to judge anything about feet right?

When I bring back horses (in my case mostly reiners) and walk them through the indoor I noticed that the majority will start pushing their toes in the sand while on a hard surface they land even. (Well morst of them )

A horse running on sand will land with his feet stretched out in front of him right? Not when the foot is even and straight down like when we judge the horse before and after shoeing. What happens to those heels in that soft footing? It gets pushed in I guess making breakover that much harder.

I can see this happening on grass too, probably less but at full speed those TB hit the deck hard! On a synthetic surface the heels dig in less or not at all making breakover easier and because of that relieving navicular area, deep flexor muscles and allowing the horse to use it's back for running rather than for pulling it's feet out of the ground.

And what about pot holes caused by one of the horses in front? Ever thought about what would happen when a race horse hits the edge of that hole when running for the roses?

I think those synthetic courses may save a lot of horses and help in giving horses equal chances too.


Ronald Aalders"

they are also concerned about the kickback and horses and people breeathing in that stuff

I seem to have noticed that Jerry Moss, on the CHRB, votes against any improvement in Cali. I wonder how this record guy got all his "expertise" in racing to keep shooting down any improvements.

I recognize the problems and have voiced my opinion. Keeneland and Turfway knew that Poly was going to be a work in progress and for the last time - NO ONE EVER SAID THAT A SYNTHETIC SURFACE IS MAINTENANCE FREE. It has been widely known that it saves money and it is virtually maintenance free. And the results are better than the results when there was dirt. Again, look at 2002-2004 and then compare to the first two years of Poly. The numbers show that Poly is successful. Show me one number in favor of dirt.

Since when does any track take how the gambler feels in consideration? People are going to bet no matter what. This is evident by the numbers.

Definition of virtually:

–adverb
for the most part; almost wholly; just about.

So, it's virtually maintenance free, which means that it's JUST ABOUT maintenance free. Why do you keep using that word, Euro? Based upon what they've been doing to the polytrack, I would hardly call it even that.

From a wagering perspective, I love it. Polytrack, cushiontrack, they both work very well with my handicapping style it seems. I'm to the point where I focus primarily on these tracks. Can't wait for Arlington this year.