Zayat is Leaving; Baffert hates it

[cloud_break]

Thing is, Zayat is correct. Just look at Turfway, Collins told them not to water it, but after gobs and gobs of carpet flying in the air and into horses' throats, Turfway brought out the water trucks.

The wrinkle here that I don't get is Collins' refusal to accept that it needs water. At Turfway, I understood his position, since he and Keeneland were selling the stuff as "low maintenance". Paying the water truck drivers wasn't gonna drive down the cost of maintenance. In this case however, it doesn't matter. Poly is statutorily mandated, pour the water to it.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I heard an interview with Martin Collins....talk about empty salesmanship.

That guy left the impression of a greedy crook.

[Riot]

Thing is, Zayat is correct. Just look at Turfway, Collins told them not to water it, but after gobs and gobs of carpet flying in the air and into horses' throats, Turfway brought out the water trucks.

Vets scoping horses at Turfway found that there was a whole lot less "stuff" in the trachea and large airways compared to when the track was dirt. The particles of Poly are too big, much larger than the particles available on dirt/sand tracks. The number of eye injuries (from clods kicked back into the horses face during a race) dropped to close to zero.

[philcski]

http://www.derbytrail.com/forums/sho...5&postcount=24

[sumitas]

Buh bye Zayat. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Buh bye Zayat. Don't let the door hit you in the ass.

100% agree on Zayat..I wonder how long it will take for Baffert to start crying about the Saratoga track..

Maybe Zayat should give his horses to Peter Miller...

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by geeker2

100% agree on Zayat..I wonder how long it will take for Baffert to start crying about the Saratoga track..

Maybe Zayat should give his horses to Peter Miller...

true enough, Miller is on fire out there. would have been a heckuva lot cheaper than putting them on a plane and moving them all to Saratoga.

I agree with the person that said poor planning on Bafferts part. this has been a long time coming and the reaction of polytrack was pretty well known.
he also stunk on the cushion surface. at this point Baffert will need to relocate.

My prediction, Baffert doesn't do any better at Saratoga.

[fpsoxfan]

I'm certainly not an expert on any of these different synthetic surfaces, but as I've said before I used to love to bet keeneland, but not after the fall and spring meet. I don't bet much left coast racing, so wagering wise it hasn't affected me. The bottom line is I really haven't heard much good about synthetic surfaces. I dread the day this arrives to Churchill or any of the NY tracks. I credit Zayat for speaking his mind.

[Antitrust32]

In college, I did a few projects on Polytrack, before it was ever installed in any track besides the Keeneland Training track. One of the big 'sells' of it, was that it would save the tracks something like $400,000 per year on maintenance fees. I think that is a reason Martin Collins does not want to admit it needs to be watered, because then that selling point would be mute.

Also at this past year's Arizona Symposium, all the artificial surface guys were out in full force, and let me tell ya, Polytrack was by far the WORSE surface out of all of them.

I held a few different kind of surfaces, and my favorite was Cushion, when you picked it up, it did not bulk up into a snowball like Poly did. It was consistant and looked like a good surface. Polytrack was sooo clumpy and disgusting that it wouldnt even come off my hands unless I scrubbed them. It just left my hands grimey and full of wax/sand. It clumped up and was so messy. No good IMO. Tapeta was good and the fourth brand which name is excaping me was good also. Polytrack definatley had the most problems.

I really think the tracks made a mistake by going with Polytrack instead of the other surfaces. Polytrack was the first to really market itself, and with Keenelands backing (they own 50 percent of the American product) and the fact that other UK tracks had used it, the US tracks decided to buy it.

Now since the tracks spent 8-10 million dollars to install it, they have to promote it.

I feel like if the tracks went with Cushion instead, we would not hear the complaining that we are getting with Poly.

[MisterB]

Silly Bob. Has to train different now, what a shame.

[10 pnt move up]

This is really a tough situation.

What I hear from people who work, train and ride on the track is that the track feels great and it definitely has a positive long range effect on the horses health.

That being said no one likes racing on it. The consistency, while softer then dirt is just not there.

From a handicapping perspective it has totally eliminated speed from your handicapping assessment. It also you leaves you guessing as to who will close the best, not who is the best horse. It has not been very fun to bet these races at any condition level. Maybe the best horses are winning but picking them is close to random.

Obviously Zayat hears from baffert how bad this stuff is. I also noticed John Sherriffs has not run many and elected to run AP Xcellent on the turf because speed is getting killed on poly routes. Its not good when the top barns decide to forgo Del Mar.

I said it before they ran they made a critical mistake installing Poly over the more versatile Cushion Track.

[The Bid]

The track is a joke, Turfway was a joke in the winter, its not all weather. It is really a disgrace

[King Glorious]

It's funny how many people said that Baffert was just a whiner and just couldn't adjust because he had to actually train horses now. He went to NY and had a lot of success and now has won two BC races and nearly had a third winner on the card with EZ Warrior. Looks like he still knows how to train if u ask me.