What is going on at Del Mar with the turf?

[Big Peps]

Every time I watch a race another horse is going down. poly track is bad enough! now the new turf is unsafe as well. WTF. Somebody has to be on the hook over there, just unacceptable.

[Kasept]

Taking precautions today with races off turf to main track. Aerating the course in attempt to soften...

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...ter-breakdowns

Del Mar Shifting Turf Races After Breakdowns

Del Mar has moved two turf races scheduled for Sunday, July 27 to its main track in light of four breakdowns that have occurred on the course since the meeting began July 17.

"We feel that the best course of action is to cancel tomorrow's two turf races," Joe Harper, president and CEO of the Del Mar Turf Club said July 26. "That will give us more days coming up, with Monday and Tuesday, to do the maintenance we had scheduled for Monday."

Del Mar was already scheduled to move the rail out to 18 feet to use a new portion of the track. Harper said that they will also aerate the entire course, "which should slow it down a little bit and give it more bounce."

Harper said that Del Mar made the decision after talking with the jockeys, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, and the California Thoroughbred Trainers.

Del Mar installed a new turf course for the 2014 season, widening it to 80 feet and installing all new sod, a hybrid Bermuda strain invented by the golfer Greg Norman.

[Kasept]

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Statement Concerning Turf Course

Del Mar is deeply saddened by the loss of Thoroughbred lives we have experienced at the track since the start of our season. Four of those losses have come on our new turf course. Despite that, we continue to have the utmost confidence in the course, as do our partners in this race meet -- the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers, the Jockeys’ Guild and the California Horse Racing Board – all of whom have expressed that confidence to us today.

Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Del Mar will shift the two turf races scheduled for Sunday’s card off the course and run them instead on our main track. Additionally, we will move up scheduled maintenance on the turf course to Saturday evening instead of the Sunday evening schedule that had been planned. The entire course will be aerated and watered starting on Sunday. Track crews will work on it for the next three days and, in the end, reposition the inner rail at the 18-foot position.

Track officials feel that they are adjusting on the side of caution with these moves. They are meant to give all parties involved – riders, trainers, owners and fans – assurance that everything possible is being done to ensure the track’s first priority, which is safety of horses and riders. Those same officials feel strongly that when racing resumes on Wednesday, the turf course will perform in a positive fashion.

[Big Peps]

Thanks Steve, hopefully the maintenance can right the ship. What a shame for not only the horses, jockeys but for owners as well. Seems like they have taken the turf from the old vet stadium in Philly and reinstalled at del mar. But seriously, shouldn't their have been some more thought and design put into the turf course?

[Big Peps]

Tell shark to stick to producing bad chardonnay

[saratogadew]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Greg Norman is still choking.

Classic!

[asudevil]

Was there with the family. Kids were not happy that they had to watch the horse from the 5th race get put down 20 yards from the finish line.

Something is amiss. Harper and crew are doing the right thing. Have to evaluate it for a few days.

[10 pnt move up]

The sample size is way to small to draw conclusions. The first horse who broke down yesterday threw a fit at the gate and clearly was agitated before the start. Its a good move but statistically pretty hard to say that the turf course is the issue.

[Big Peps]

I don't know there are some pretty good early indicators and where there is smoke there is fire

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

The sample size is way to small to draw conclusions. The first horse who broke down yesterday threw a fit at the gate and clearly was agitated before the start. Its a good move but statistically pretty hard to say that the turf course is the issue.

Perhaps she knew something was wrong with her.

[Kasept]

Del Mar Makes Additional Adjustment to Its Turf Racing
Friday, August 1st, 2014

Del Mar plans further adjustments to racing on its turf course following injuries on the new surface, which had been expanded and installed this past winter to replace its previous course that was more than 50 years old.

The changes, which will take effect immediately, will consist of the following items:

• No turf sprints will be conducted
• No races for claiming horses will be written for the turf
• Because of the provisions stated above, overall turf racing will be reduced by approximately one-third at the meet, allowing for additional aggressive maintenance
• Renown surface expert Dr. Michael (Mick) Peterson has been enlisted as a track consultant
• Pre-race inspections of all racehorses will be enhanced
• All racing at Del Mar will be conducted on its Polytrack main track through next Friday; turf racing is scheduled to return Saturday, August 9

“We are doing everything within our power to ensure a safe turf course,” said DMTC president and CEO Joe Harper. “Our riders and our trainers have told us that it is a safe course from the start and they continue to support us in that regard. Preparing to resume turf racing next week will allow our crews to perform additional safety measures.”

Following the injury to a horse on the course Thursday, Del Mar announced that it would not conduct any grass racing through the current weekend. During that time – and into the coming week – track crews will further aerate the course and include additional watering on it in an attempt to provide additional softening to the surface.

Del Mar’s executive vice president for racing Tom Robbins said that the adjustments the track is making take all their earlier safety precautions yet another step ahead.

“Our turf sprints put extra stress on the course and by not running claiming horses on it we expect to be working with our very best horses,” he said. “We’ll aggressively aerate more, water more and – with the goal of returning to grass racing next weekend – we’ll have the inner turf rail out to 24 feet, basically racing our horses over a fresh surface.”

Del Mar has six different moves with its inner turf rail, going in six-foot increments from zero to 30 feet. Earlier in the meet it had raced at zero, six and 18 feet.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials noted that they had begun consultations with renowned surfaces expert Dr. Michael (Mick) Peterson, the executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, working in conjunction with the track’s turf superintendent Leif Dickinson.

“I am aware of the Del Mar turf course and all signs are that it is a safe one,” noted Peterson. “The measurements and readings I’ve seen indicate they are well within proper parameters. I’ve worked with Leif (Dickinson) in the past and have great confidence in his ability to do things the right way.”

Further, steps are being put in place to provide enhanced pre-race inspections of all racehorses, something the track and state veterinarians conduct on racing days. All racehorses go through four different veterinary inspections – first in the morning, then on three other occasions throughout the day -- prior to racing in the afternoon.

Del Mar officials also stated that they will continue to work with the California Horse Racing Board safety stewards – in conjunction with their own safety steward – to be positive that all possible avenues have been explored in providing safety on the course.

Those same officials said they will continue full communication with their partners in racing in Southern California, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the Jockeys Guild.

Del Mar’s 36-day meeting is scheduled to run through Wednesday, September 3.