Shirreffs, who stables at Hollywood, said that he sees more hind-end injuries, hoof bruises, and gravels.
Trainer William J. Morey Jr. said his horses have experienced “more hind-end problems” on the new surface (golden gate)
Have you found a reduction in one type of injury but an increase in another type, say, fewer chipped bones but more hind-end problems?
A: We just haven’t had that experience. Perhaps it is because we (in Australia) are turf racing and not dirt racing. There’s an argument over here to say that horses bred for running on dirt are more on the forehand. I think there’s something in putting dirt horses on synthetic tracks. I think it’s going to take a little bit of time because (horsemen may) have to change their training techniques.
When asked about undocumented reports that horses racing on synthetic surfaces are having more hind-end injuries, Dickinson said: “The tensile strength of the fibers used in Tapeta was specifically designed and selected for stability for a horse’s hind end.”
each of those above is from a different article...just a few i found right off. it's something i've seen mentioned more than once in various bloodhorse articles--and it seems it was something that dickinson looked into solving with his tapeta...
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