DERBY NOTES (4/24-25): 'Spell' to Oaks only..

Is there really that big a difference between dirt and synthetic surfaces?? I have walked the tracks at Turfway and Keeneland and they seem predominately dirt with carpet and tire fragments mixed in. Obviously these substances would lessen the concussive shock but they still seem pretty similar to a dirt surface in terms of footing. Big Brown 5F in 58. Pretty fast but Hard Spun worked 5F in 57 last year and ran a bang up race. Was BB ridden by a jockey or a larger ex rider???

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by inquiry

Is there really that big a difference between dirt and synthetic surfaces?? I have walked the tracks at Turfway and Keeneland and they seem predominately dirt with carpet and tire fragments mixed in. Obviously these substances would lessen the concussive shock but they still seem pretty similar to a dirt surface in terms of footing. Big Brown 5F in 58. Pretty fast but Hard Spun worked 5F in 57 last year and ran a bang up race. Was BB ridden by a jockey or a larger ex rider???

ENORMOUS. The racing evidence has shown some synthetics to be as different from dirt as grass is. Keenland used to get 40% wire jobs in routes but the first spring on poly delievered less than 5%. That doesn't mean all synthetics are the same and it doesn't mean a horse can't handle both, but you can't consider them the same.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by inquiry

Is there really that big a difference between dirt and synthetic surfaces?? I have walked the tracks at Turfway and Keeneland and they seem predominately dirt with carpet and tire fragments mixed in. Obviously these substances would lessen the concussive shock but they still seem pretty similar to a dirt surface in terms of footing. Big Brown 5F in 58. Pretty fast but Hard Spun worked 5F in 57 last year and ran a bang up race. Was BB ridden by a jockey or a larger ex rider???

there isn't a bit of dirt in a synthetic mix. it's silica sand mixed with fibers and such. you have to consider it as a separate surface. it's not comparable to dirt, other than it isn't green!!