Arlignton Poly

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by Riot

I have never heard claims to, "no maintenance".

Collins' website says, "It provides a safe, durable, high performance, lower maintenance surface."

Well, i know for a fact that Turfway don't do enough with their surface, which is more than likely the reason for the problems, which they have had with the poly and it is unlikely that other tracks are doing the same.

If you see the amount of work that goes into the poly over here, you'll probably see why we get very few breakdowns at all.

I cannot see how two almost identical surfaces could react and ride so differently without the problem being to do with the ground staff rather than the surface itself.

Polytrack has been a miracle over here, all the trainers love it and it is so safe.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Well, i know for a fact that Turfway don't do enough with their surface, which is more than likely the reason for the problems, which they have had with the poly and it is unlikely that other tracks are doing the same.

If you see the amount of work that goes into the poly over here, you'll probably see why we get very few breakdowns at all.

I cannot see how two almost identical surfaces could react and ride so differently without the problem being to do with the ground staff rather than the surface itself.

Polytrack has been a miracle over here, all the trainers love it and it is so safe.

more of your "facts"?
Turfway races when the temperature is below freezing. its a different animal than other poly tracks. they had a good year and a bad year. they're still trying to get it right. however its much better for them than dirt.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

more of your "facts"?
Turfway races when the temperature is below freezing. its a different animal than other poly tracks. they had a good year and a bad year. they're still trying to get it right. however its much better for them than dirt.

As i was told on another forum, apparently Turfway only harrowed their poly once when it started to freeze. If you only do that you have to expect problems. Poly is okay until it reaches a certain temperature and then it starts to ball up.

If it is kept moving, it doesn't have the chance to freeze or ball up.

[The Bid]

Cannon... Did you notice the gate scratch in the 6th? Im sure the managment didnt want 3 breakdowns in one day so they are being extra careful on the heels of the million. Of course FCC wanted to lose the bad horses, but I doubt he wanted them to breakdown, and I dont think he would have ran them if they felt they were in harms way. Its sad for anyone to lose one on the track, but the fact is they broke down on polytrack. They have had 6 in the last week, thats significant regardless of who they are breaking down for. Especially when I have noticed a significant change in recent times at Arlington. It seems to me they tried to speed up the track and it put the horses in danger.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Cannon... Did you notice the gate scratch in the 6th? Im sure the managment didnt want 3 breakdowns in one day so they are being extra careful on the heels of the million. Of course FCC wanted to lose the bad horses, but I doubt he wanted them to breakdown, and I dont think he would have ran them if they felt they were in harms way. Its sad for anyone to lose one on the track, but the fact is they broke down on polytrack. They have had 6 in the last week, thats significant regardless of who they are breaking down for. Especially when I have noticed a significant change in recent times at Arlington. It seems to me they tried to speed up the track and it put the horses in danger.

it is all the rain that has made it quicker

[The Bid]

Whatever it is its not playing nearly as safe as it was earlier in the meet. The trainers want Del Mar to put water down and management refuses. Does the composition change that drastically when it gets tightened up? If so thats even more reason its not all weather. I think in a perfect climate mid 70s its a fine track, I dont think its made to handle fridged KY winters, or So Cal heat. Hopefully they work it out soon

[Riot]

Its sad for anyone to lose one on the track, but the fact is they broke down on polytrack.

Last year, and every year before, the fact is they broke down on dirt.

Bid, it's obvious you dislike artificial surfaces. You've said you don't like that races are slower. Is that the only reason, or are there others?

Originally Posted by The Bid

Whatever it is its not playing nearly as safe as it was earlier in the meet. The trainers want Del Mar to put water down and management refuses. Does the composition change that drastically when it gets tightened up? If so thats even more reason its not all weather. I think in a perfect climate mid 70s its a fine track, I dont think its made to handle fridged KY winters, or So Cal heat. Hopefully they work it out soon

Just a thought. Now the majority of fields are small and of poor quality at Arlington and actually have been for quite some time. The initial booming field sizes have dwindled, the Illinois breeding program has taken gigantic hits on their foal crops the past decade and can no longer support a full season of racing. The out of state horses find easier spots in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky. Not enough horses to fill good racing so they have to card crap and when crap races enough times it breaks downs.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Cannon... Did you notice the gate scratch in the 6th? Im sure the managment didnt want 3 breakdowns in one day so they are being extra careful on the heels of the million. Of course FCC wanted to lose the bad horses, but I doubt he wanted them to breakdown, and I dont think he would have ran them if they felt they were in harms way. Its sad for anyone to lose one on the track, but the fact is they broke down on polytrack. They have had 6 in the last week, thats significant regardless of who they are breaking down for. Especially when I have noticed a significant change in recent times at Arlington. It seems to me they tried to speed up the track and it put the horses in danger.

I am always leery of horses on the hard drop to the bottom, especially for connections that aren't the 'sentimental' type. When these type breakdown, track surface is usually incidental.