CHRB SYNTH SEMINAR: Baff, Shirreffs rip surface
 

Wednesday's California confab on the synthetic surfaces...

SANTA ANITA TO REPLACE SURFACE AFTER MEET
By Tracy Ganz, Blood-Horse

Experts from all avenues of the racing industry presented statistics and opinions on synthetic surfaces before a standing-room-only crowd during a six-hour special meeting called by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Feb. 20. While some horsemen, including trainers Bob Baffert and John Shirreffs, spoke out against the surfaces, the majority of speakers supported the switch away from dirt.

Santa Anita’s recent difficulties with its Cushion Track surface have focused attention on the CHRB mandate for major California tracks to install synthetic surface by 2008. During the panel of racetrack operators, Santa Anita president Ron Charles said that following completion of the current meeting, the track will replace its surface, though the choice of which synthetic surface has not been made.

“No one is aware more than I am that we will have the Breeders’ Cup here two years in a row,” said Charles. “We have got to get it right. This surface that’s out there right now will only last us through the end of this meet.”

COMPLETE:
http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43736

so, the pro ride binder was just a temporary fix....wonder where they go from here? seems to me pro ride would be the favorite to do the new track after the meet ends.

How about they go back to dirt instead of looking even dumber than they have already

How much $$$ will it cost the tracks to re-apply materials every 7 months?

All weather
Low maintenace
Cost effective
Fair
Less injuries

Which of those have the Californa synthetics been because thats what they were sold as.

ummm links work fine....you did NOT need to reprint the article. one set of rules for steve and another set for the rest of the world? WTF? you know better.

:p

Why would they want to do that? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: They might have to admit they messed up severely.

I would have emphasized NEED and not NOT. Otherwise.......love the anger.

it's SB's world... we're just allowed to live in it.:D

what if they'd go back to a dirt surface. make it sandy, softer and deeper and slow the horses down?

Exactly and I bet they could do that with a couple of million.

I don't know...what if?

wish I had consulted with you first....and thank you.

actually it's BW's world.

Im not even close to an expert on this.About the only thing they all agree on is Pro=ride made it better.Vets used stats to prove opposite results. A big thing in my opinion was the shoe issue. No shoes and the harm of toe grabs. Are we just scratching the "surface". More things than the track surface involved here but the track surface is the one that involves BIG BUCKS and can promise anything and deliver nothing. All the time claiming its not my fault. Is this just a set up to make pro-ride the front runner. I havent heard any one knocking the tapeta surface.

Don't thank him. You were right. He is wrong.

Seems like they could put in a trampoline-like surface to protect the ninnies and their horsies.

Me neither...

Maybe a track consisting of Marshmallows and used rubbers? Heaven forbid horses being forced to run on dirt. Oh my!!

The makers of synthetic tracks in Europe could say they were maintanance free because they didnt have 1500 head training on them every morning. They just showed up for the racing , so I imagine there isnt much maintanace required for 4 days of running.
I will say that there should have been more fact finding done before all of California was made to install the synthetic tracks , that being said I still like them when they function properly , there are some adjustments that are going to have to be made to accomidate 1500 horses training on these surfaces.
The CHRB meeting was really very informative , all the things that the vets had to say were a very good learning experiance and overall I think they proved that when the synthetic tracks are functioning properly they do decrease injuries and protect horses lives.
To be honest the horses were really alot healthier at the Del Mar meet on the slower track , I know people dont like it , but it does go to show that speed does kill.
You hardly ever see races on the east coast crack , 22 , 45 , 109 so why is it so bad if we dont do that in the west ?

could go either way...I was thanking him for the complement about my anger, as I'm sure he knows.