Stronach reneges on SA surface change..

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Deb,

Not that I'm a defender of the synthetic by any means, but as Bill Finley pointed out in an ESPN piece last week, those figures also included some rather unfortunate and gaudy fatality figs from Los Alamitos. The use of breakdown figures in this debate is always going to be superfluous and inconclusive. The numbers are going to vary up and down, high and wide on any and all surfaces because of the capricious nature of injuries in general.

The synthetic doesn't work as constituted by this generation of man-made surfaces because they have failed to live up to their advertised features and benefits overall. They aren't maintenance free as advertised. They aren't any appreciably safer than a well maintained organic dirt surface as advertised. They have turned off a significant group of the horse-playing public. There has been no benefit to their installation other than to make money for those that got behind it. And for all the adulation Keeneland receives from its' dew-eyed worshipers, I'm curious how they've escaped criticism for their hand in the synthetic surface 'putover'.

ah, i didn't see the finley piece. but you'd expect that with the largest tracks having synthetics, there would be a decrease even with the fairs included-unless of course those numbers weren't used in the past. at any rate, it certainly hasn't lived up to its billing.
as for the track surface being changed, it appears stronach is trying to use the surface as a bargaining tool. perhaps it'll end up being changed after all. but i'm not holding my breath.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Danzig

as for the track surface being changed, it appears stronach is trying to use the surface as a bargaining tool. perhaps it'll end up being changed after all. but i'm not holding my breath.

This was exactly my thought when I read the article.

He's pretending indifference when he really does want to do the surface change, in hopes some sort of 'compromise' will be worked out on some other issue.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

This was exactly my thought when I read the article.

He's pretending indifference when he really does want to do the surface change, in hopes some sort of 'compromise' will be worked out on some other issue.

right. he said unless the business climate changes, he's not interested. i can see his point-the chrb made a boneheaded decision, which he had to pay for. now, he'll have to pay for it again.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Danzig

right. he said unless the business climate changes, he's not interested. i can see his point-the chrb made a boneheaded decision, which he had to pay for. now, he'll have to pay for it again.

Also in his defense, he actually had to pay for it twice.

Cushion, then Pro Ride.

[tector]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Also in his defense, he actually had to pay for it twice.

Cushion, then Pro Ride.

But that second change is all on him.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Also in his defense, he actually had to pay for it twice.

Cushion, then Pro Ride.

true. and i wonder how the bankruptcy judge would look upon him spending millions to buy dirt? we may want it, but how do-able is it at this point? and what's to keep chrb from making future mandates that cost an owner millions-twice? if i were frank, SA wouldn't be on the keep list.

[The Bid]

Why should he foot the bill again. Why doesn't Shapiro get off some of that kickback he recieved for the mandate and pay for the track. I hope he never puts in a new track, let that **** dissolve

[Scav]

California needs to start worrying about trainers completely jumping ship. O'Neil now has about 20 horses at Philly Park and Kristin Mulhall is the newest trainer to head east, to Penn National!