Arlignton Poly

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Danzig

seems some of the confusion is based on calling all these artificial surfaces poly track, when that is only one type....kind of like calling all tissue brands a kleenex!

While obviously different, they are still pretty similar to each other. Cushion track behaves a lot closer to polytrack than it does to dirt. It isn't much different than calling dirt at Santa Anita and Mountaineer both dirt. They are quite different even to the naked eye. Still, dirt pretty much plays the same all over, with most differences due to course layout.

The problem I have with the fake stuff is the constant tinkering not only from day to day, but even between races. It is very tough for a bettor to handicap the night before, because you have absolutely no idea what to expect.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

While obviously different, they are still pretty similar to each other. Cushion track behaves a lot closer to polytrack than it does to dirt. It isn't much different than calling dirt at Santa Anita and Mountaineer both dirt. They are quite different even to the naked eye. Still, dirt pretty much plays the same all over, with most differences due to course layout.

The problem I have with the fake stuff is the constant tinkering not only from day to day, but even between races. It is very tough for a bettor to handicap the night before, because you have absolutely no idea what to expect.

i just know that everyone was thrilled with hollywood, but not near as much with del mar.

i just hope oaklawn stays with their surface, churchill, saratoga, belmont as well....
keeneland probably needs to do something with their surface as well...of course their dirt track was showing a huge bias as well....

i just want to see a surface that is kind to no one particular running style. get rid of the bias!

[cmorioles]

I can understand the thought that tracks should be fair. However, I feel speed, and let us not forget we are talking about racing, should have some advantage. At a minimum, they should have the advantage of being able to establish position and make others go around them. That advantage has been turned into a big time negative at some of these places. Why reward slow horses?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I can understand the thought that tracks should be fair. However, I feel speed, and let us not forget we are talking about racing, should have some advantage. At a minimum, they should have the advantage of being able to establish position and make others go around them. That advantage has been turned into a big time negative at some of these places. Why reward slow horses?

that's right, no one should get a early or late boost. the horses should decide the outcome, not the track.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I can understand the thought that tracks should be fair. However, I feel speed, and let us not forget we are talking about racing, should have some advantage. At a minimum, they should have the advantage of being able to establish position and make others go around them. That advantage has been turned into a big time negative at some of these places. Why reward slow horses?

Our Poly often gives the advantage to the speed horses, so why should it be any different over there? It is quite often the speed that gets the advantage, and then there are some days when the winners come from off the speed. It all depends on the weather and how it is prepared on the day.

If you're saying it isn't helping the speed horses, it is because it isn't being prepared for them. Maybe they are harrowing too deep, and making it hard for the speed horses to maintain those quick fractions?

The beauty of Poly is that is can be altered to make it fair on most horses no matter what the weather conditions.

[ArlJim78]

wire to wire winner stats (SPEED) thru 8/16/07

Six furlongs
Saratoga 7/38, 18%,,,,DelMar 12/59, 20%

6.5-7 furlongs
Saratoga 2/13, 15%,,,,DelMar 7/29, 24%

1 1/16 – 1 1/8 miles
Saratoga 4/24, 17%,,,,DelMar 1/14, 7%

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

wire to wire winner stats (SPEED) thru 8/16/07

Six furlongs
Saratoga 7/38, 18%,,,,DelMar 12/59, 20%

6.5-7 furlongs
Saratoga 2/13, 15%,,,,DelMar 7/29, 24%

1 1/16 – 1 1/8 miles
Saratoga 4/24, 17%,,,,DelMar 1/14, 7%

As with all stats, they can be slanted any way the presenter wants to fit his opinion. Obviously, the horses at Saratoga are running much faster early than those at Delmar. I'm just trying to keep things fair and balanced. That said, Saratoga certainly hasn't been very kind to speed the last few years, and a lot of it has to do with the new superintendent.

[JJP]

This from Joe Kristufek in Sunday's (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald re: Polytrack.

"Polytrack has proven safer for racehorses, but not for jockeys. When a spill occurs on Polytrack, riders hit the dense surface hard, and since there's little slide to it, its nearly impossible for them to drop and roll."

In the past week or so, AP has seen Penalba go down in a bad spill; still in critical condition I believe. Israel Ocampo and Uriel Lopez went down in a spill on Friday and Ocampo suffered multiple facial injuries which required surgery while Lopez suffered a broken thumb and bruised ribs.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

wire to wire winner stats (SPEED) thru 8/16/07

Six furlongs
Saratoga 7/38, 18%,,,,DelMar 12/59, 20%

6.5-7 furlongs
Saratoga 2/13, 15%,,,,DelMar 7/29, 24%

1 1/16 – 1 1/8 miles
Saratoga 4/24, 17%,,,,DelMar 1/14, 7%

All i can say is that i'm shocked. I'm sick and tired of saying it, but if the track wants a speed bias, they can prepare the Poly to give a speed bias. The fact that the speed is suffering on the Poly suggests two things: 1. The tracks don't want the surface to favour speed 2. The tracks cannot prepare the surface properly to know what is going to happen with the races.

Over here before each race day the clerk of the course will usually give his/her idea on how the track will ride and whether it is likely to suit the speed or closers. With such changeable weather that we suffer in England, the track has to be prepared differently and that changes what horses that it favours.

Who is the person that is in charge of the surface at the track (i.e. what is his/her title). They should be the ones that should be able to tell the betting public what the track will be riding like. They are obviously not doing it though.

From what i have read on different threads so far, you American's are very hard to please. You seem to want the moon but aren't preapred to go and get it yourself.

Duscuss the problems that you are having with the tracks, speak to the person/persons in charge of the surface and ask what it is going to be riding like.

One question. How long has the surface been installed at Del Mar? Don't forget that Poly does take a while to settle in and become consistant.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

All i can say is that i'm shocked. I'm sick and tired of saying it, but if the track wants a speed bias, they can prepare the Poly to give a speed bias. The fact that the speed is suffering on the Poly suggests two things: 1. The tracks don't want the surface to favour speed 2. The tracks cannot prepare the surface properly to know what is going to happen with the races.

Over here before each race day the clerk of the course will usually give his/her idea on how the track will ride and whether it is likely to suit the speed or closers. With such changeable weather that we suffer in England, the track has to be prepared differently and that changes what horses that it favours.

Who is the person that is in charge of the surface at the track (i.e. what is his/her title). They should be the ones that should be able to tell the betting public what the track will be riding like. They are obviously not doing it though.

From what i have read on different threads so far, you American's are very hard to please. You seem to want the moon but aren't preapred to go and get it yourself.

Duscuss the problems that you are having with the tracks, speak to the person/persons in charge of the surface and ask what it is going to be riding like.

One question. How long has the surface been installed at Del Mar? Don't forget that Poly does take a while to settle in and become consistant.

you hit on it, its a new surface over here and people don't have sufficient experience with it yet like they do in Europe, and the other key point is its hard to please everyone over here. We excel at whining.

[Riot]

i just want to see a surface that is kind to no one particular running style. get rid of the bias!

I was happy to see the CA tracks get synthetic, as I considered them notoriously biased in favor of speed. I was tired of seeing horses come out of CA and not being able to reproduce their racing form elsewhere (false speed).

I like the artificial surfaces, as they do what you want, they level the playing field. True speed can hold, false speed stops like a rock, closers have an honest chance, stalkers have to have that last good burst to pass. More of a tactical race, with horses that have to be prepared, than simply "gun 'em and go".