Del Mar... NO MORE POLYTRACK

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Seattleallstar

Yeah it's a shame that one of our premium race meets is run on polycrap

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

But, Steve, how can you dislike a surface that made Grade I winners out of Shotgun Gulch, Dr. Zic, Lilacs and Lace, Karlovy Vary, Joha, Dominican, Wickedly Perfect and Negligee?!!??!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

But, Steve, how can you dislike a surface that made Grade I winners out of Shotgun Gulch, Dr. Zic, Lilacs and Lace, Karlovy Vary, Joha, Dominican, Wickedly Perfect and Negligee?!!??!

Don't forget Monba

[pmayjr]

I know I'm in the huge minority on this. But I hate that they're switching back. No, they shouldn't have switched in the first place, but unlike SA they had no major drainage or other issues, right?

My main reason for being opposed to the move is I usually do really well anytime one meet ends and another meet starts and they switch surfaces. You can usually nail long shots early in meets that can't run on one surface, but wake up on the other.

I mean like when Arlington goes to Hawthrone
When SA goes to Hollywood (and now Del Mar)
Keeneland to Churchill to Turfway
Golden Gate to the fair tracks with dirt.

So my reasons are purely for handicapping, but that's why I want Del Mar to stay synthetic. The one outcome that I hope comes from this, that in the future when SoCal horses can't hack it on dirt, maybe a lot more will ship to GG to try and get some success from that surface?

****, I'd even love the Aqueduct inner to go synthetic lol

For you guys naming all these synth winners, is it really any different for a horse that can't run a step on dirt, but thrives on turf?

[Seattleallstar]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

It's been promoted and talked about as the equivalent of our version of Ascot

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

how much did the ridiculous mandate in california cost these tracks? between the expense, the problems with the track surface at santa anita, and then the change back....what a complete mess.
i'm glad that del mar is making the move, but this stuff should never have happened to begin with.

no better example of the adage ' the road to hell is paved with good intentions'

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

The problem is wagering has been actually strong at Keeneland, which I don't understand. Every big bettor I know treats the place like the plague. The results are not handicappable by any manner other than throwing darts. It's a wonderful place to visit, but not to wager. They deserve and get a lot of criticism as far as I'm concerned.

I, and most others, don't have a problem with synthetic as a replacement for dirt- as long as it's actually LIKE DIRT. Hollywood was perfectly playable. Del Mar and Keeneland are not.

Horses work out more than they race and get injured more often training than in racing. IF safety was the main selling point then why not install them in more training tracks rather than racing surfaces.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by helicopter11

Horses work out more than they race and get injured more often training than in racing. IF safety was the main selling point then why not install them in more training tracks rather than racing surfaces.

most are the same

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Premium meet? The turf is fine but the main track is a sideshow. And it's remarkable how the 'racing as it's meant to be' Keeneland organization that people slavishly fawn over, has completely escaped criticism for their craven money grab as partner with Polytrack/Martin Collins. They singlehandedly precipitated this preposterous 'synthetic era' before quietly disassociating themselves.

Well said.

[randallscott35]

We've lost a decade with this surface nonsense.

[freddymo]

http://www.drf.com/news/steven-crist...-synthetic-era

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

http://www.drf.com/news/steven-crist...-synthetic-era

There have been rumblings about Keeneland going back to dirt for a while now.

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

We've lost a decade with this surface nonsense.

Not to mention a lot of our $$

[pmayjr]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

We've lost a decade with this surface nonsense.

that's a little overboard don't you think?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by pmayjr

that's a little overboard don't you think?

Zenyatta

[pmayjr]

Yeah... Everything she did was a complete fluke... especially because of the surface... yeah. Glad she ran up the track at Churchill and Oaklawn to cement that statement

[randallscott35]

Bring back the dirt and quit your whining.