FG cuts purses

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

They should rip out their turf course and replace it with poly.

And dye it green. Problem solved. Next!

Seriously, growing grass in river silt, 4 feet below sea level and having 1200 lb. horses trample over it 5 times a day is hardly turf racing.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

And dye it green. Problem solved. Next!

Seriously, growing grass in river silt, 4 feet below sea level and having 1200 lb. horses trample over it 5 times a day is hardly turf racing.

If they would just switch to St. Augustine grass all their problems would be solved.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

If they would just switch to St. Augustine grass all their problems would be solved.

That and not letting the people at Jazz fest wreck it every year.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

That and not letting the people at Jazz fest wreck it every year.

At least they send that crew walking around the course 50 times to pick up all the chicken bones.

[blackthroatedwind]

Isn't there, or wasn't there, a signal dispute that played a big role in the lower handle?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Isn't there, or wasn't there, a signal dispute that played a big role in the lower handle?

They forgot to use that

[Scav]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Isn't there, or wasn't there, a signal dispute that played a big role in the lower handle?

Great point.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Isn't there, or wasn't there, a signal dispute that played a big role in the lower handle?

Excellent point. You would think the track suits would march that excuse front and center instead of assessing fault for the lower handle to the national economy and the weather. Then again, they have no control over the economy and the weather.

[blackthroatedwind]

It's tricky but I'm not surprised they didn't bring it up.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

If they would just switch to St. Augustine grass all their problems would be solved.

St. Augustine looks hearty, but it is not. My 50lb kids ruin my yard with their foot traffic. I can only imagine how many races a St. Augustine turf course would last under half ton horses.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

St. Augustine looks hearty, but it is not. My 50lb kids ruin my yard with their foot traffic. I can only imagine how many races a St. Augustine turf course would last under half ton horses.

I was half joking about the St. Augustine as it is a common grass in New Orleans. But it gets too clumpy to be raced upon.

But the stuff can be very durable, depending on which variety is used. I resod parts of my yard with the Sapphire variety and once it spread, it held up to human and canine traffic. It held up much better than other varieties, in particular Del Mar. The downside is it gets so thick that it gets a big buildup of thatch when it starts going dormant in the winter.

I can't remember Fair Grounds having as many problems with its turf course 20 years ago. The problems predate Katrina, so that can't be blamed. Who knows what the root of the problem is, but the course looks like a beach for too much of the meet.