The Spa says who needs Polytrack?

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by oracle80

I'm kind of wondering where the conmen who push the polytrack scam are now? NYRA deepened the surface over the good cushion and I can recall only one bad breakdown so far in 4 weeks, and im not even sure of that horse was put down, I dont think he was.

not sure if it is correct but I heard 4 breakdowns so far including one on the turf.

[Nostradamus]

This could be the most moronic thing I ever read. Saratoga has no need to go to polytrack. The reason though there are so few breakdowns has nothing to do with the great track surface at Saratoga though. The reason there are so few breakdowns is because of the quality of horses running there. Trainers don't need to run horses that are injured at a meet like Saratoga.

Polytrack would probably be a good idea at Aqueduct though. No need for it at Saratoga or Belmont. It actually is a good surface and Keeneland going to it can only help the horses. The only thing we know about polytrack right now is that it is atleast as safe as dirt and in some tracks where weather is a factor, it is superior.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

This could be the most moronic thing I ever read. Saratoga has no need to go to polytrack. The reason though there are so few breakdowns has nothing to do with the great track surface at Saratoga though. The reason there are so few breakdowns is because of the quality of horses running there. Trainers don't need to run horses that are injured at a meet like Saratoga.

Polytrack would probably be a good idea at Aqueduct though. No need for it at Saratoga or Belmont. It actually is a good surface and Keeneland going to it can only help the horses. The only thing we know about polytrack right now is that it is atleast as safe as dirt and in some tracks where weather is a factor, it is superior.

This reasoning makes no sense, your for Saratoga not having Polytrack is that they are high quality horses that are not sore, but it's a good surface for Keeneland. So you are saying that there are not high quality horses at Keeneland? Is that what you are saying? If that's the case, then you do not make any sense...

I'm glad to hear Belmont and Saratoga will not go to polytrack. It makes sense to try it on one of the Aqueduct surfaces.

I hate to see this happen at Keeneland, where they only needed to make a depper, more forgiving surface with less rail bias. Imo, they rushed into this, which is very un-like the Keeneland Association. At least the Keeneland turf course will retain form.

I have yet to figure out how to play Turfway now, so I don't play it.

Just because a few crazy Brits like the stuff doesn't mean we need it or really want it. Besides, I know on no meaningful European races run on polytrack.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by jackofhearts

I'm glad to hear Belmont and Saratoga will not go to polytrack. It makes sense to try it on one of the Aqueduct surfaces.

I hate to see this happen at Keeneland, where they only needed to make a depper, more forgiving surface with less rail bias. Imo, they rushed into this, which is very un-like the Keeneland Association. At least the Keeneland turf course will retain form.

I have yet to figure out how to play Turfway now, so I don't play it.

Just because a few crazy Brits like the stuff doesn't mean we need it or really want it. Besides, I know on no meaningful European races run on polytrack.

Keeneland rushed into it, because they are part owners of a Poly Track company. Keeneland can have days in the Fall, where it plays very fair, then be extremely speed favoring the next. The Spring Meet is always a mystery, but I think that's because of the region just coming out of Winter that may have some effect on the track, but that's just my opinion. The Fall Meet at Keeneland is the better of the two in my opinion, because of the way the track plays, it may favor speed, but at least you can see it favoring speed, in the Spring, it's total guess of how it's going to play...

Originally Posted by Pointg5

Keeneland rushed into it, because they are part owners of a Poly Track company. Keeneland can have days in the Fall, where it plays very fair, then be extremely speed favoring the next. The Spring Meet is always a mystery, but I think that's because of the region just coming out of Winter that may have some effect on the track, but that's just my opinion. The Fall Meet at Keeneland is the better of the two in my opinion, because of the way the track plays, it may favor speed, but at least you can see it favoring speed, in the Spring, it's total guess of how it's going to play...

Keeneland didnt rush into this at all. They have been studying it for the past 10 years. This is anything but a rash decision.

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Keeneland didnt rush into this at all. They have been studying it for the past 10 years. This is anything but a rash decision.

yeah, them owning part of the company had nothing to do with it. Are you kidding me? That place has been a rail bias for decades and only NOW when they own part of a company that makes this stuff do they care about the surface so very deeply? Are you serious?

I can gurantee you that attendance by many trainers at Keeneland will be down this fall. It makes no sense to prep for the BC over a surface like that. All Keeneland has done is help the Belmont fall meet out!! Keeneland will take a hammering in the handle. Lets see how many tracks wanna switch when Keeneland takes a beating in the handle.
Its a text book marketing scam, thats all this stuff is. The playbook goes like this:
1) Seize on the issues that its all about horses health and play on tragedies to try and use them to your advantage. Make out any trainer who says he doesnt like it to be in the same league as a molester, make any opponents of the stuff afraid to speak out lest they be labeled bad guys who don't care about horses health.
2) Hammer home to tracks that after they spend the initial ten million that maintenance costs will be minimal and save them money in the long run.(The fact that supposedly Turfway had to really work on the stuff this summer isn't spoken about) Don't explain to the track execs that many players(who support the tracks with handle) won't wanna play races on the stuff.
3) Rally around the fact that crippled horses who shouldnt be running in the first place can now make twice as many starts on the stuff and fill cards.
4) Don't make any mention of the fact that the jocks absolutely hate this stuff and because of it the races can set up very unorthodox. The agent of a LEADING Kentucky rider told me his kid hates the stuff. Says it hurts when it kicks back at you. Its why the races on the stuff look like parades with the horses all strung out, the jocks wanna be in the clear and out of the path of the kickback.

Originally Posted by oracle80

I can gurantee you that attendance by many trainers at Keeneland will be down this fall. It makes no sense to prep for the BC over a surface like that. All Keeneland has done is help the Belmont fall meet out!! Keeneland will take a hammering in the handle. Lets see how many tracks wanna switch when Keeneland takes a beating in the handle.
Its a text book marketing scam, thats all this stuff is. The playbook goes like this:
1) Seize on the issues that its all about horses health and play on tragedies to try and use them to your advantage. Make out any trainer who says he doesnt like it to be in the same league as a molester, make any opponents of the stuff afraid to speak out lest they be labeled bad guys who don't care about horses health.
2) Hammer home to tracks that after they spend the initial ten million that maintenance costs will be minimal and save them money in the long run.(The fact that supposedly Turfway had to really work on the stuff this summer isn't spoken about) Don't explain to the track execs that many players(who support the tracks with handle) won't wanna play races on the stuff.
3) Rally around the fact that crippled horses who shouldnt be running in the first place can now make twice as many starts on the stuff and fill cards.
4) Don't make any mention of the fact that the jocks absolutely hate this stuff and because of it the races can set up very unorthodox. The agent of a LEADING Kentucky rider told me his kid hates the stuff. Says it hurts when it kicks back at you. Its why the races on the stuff look like parades with the horses all strung out, the jocks wanna be in the clear and out of the path of the kickback.

Actually, Keeneland has had more barn requests for the fall 06 meet than for any other meet they have ever had. That tells me that there are going to more horses on the grounds. Secondly, Keeneland bought into the company after doing 10 years of research. They see the potential so why not buy it. And again, a synthetic surface is not for everyone. But I dont think handle will be down at all. And I think that the fields will be full as well.