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.”
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