New Pro-Ride Surface Is Right On at Santa Anita
By GREG MELIKOV
Santa Anita‘s main track has encountered a bumpy road since a synthetic surface replaced dirt last summer. It has become an up-and-down soap opera for a year.
High Hopes: Cushion Track that cost $11 million was installed at Santa Anita before the Oak Tree meeting began 13 months ago in September. The change met the California Horse Racing Board mandate requiring most major tracks to install synthetic surfaces by the end of ’07 to reduce fatalities among horses. So far it has.
How Sweet It Is: Oak Tree lassoed the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Aug. 22, 2007 — the first time some races will be staged on a surface other than dirt. Since the richest event in United States racing debuted at Hollywood Park, it’s only fitting a Southern California track will serve as host for the seventh time — Oak Tree’s fourth.
Trouble in Paradise: Santa Anita lost 11 days of racing when drainage problems caused by heavy rains last January and February. Repairs were made — new material from Pro-Ride Racing in Australia was successfully blended with the Cushion Track and exhaustive maintenance improved racing conditions.
California Dreamin’: The track appeared so inviting that the ’09 BC also was awarded Oak Tree at Santa Anita. For the first time America’s showcase racing event will be staged at the same track in consecutive years.
They’ll Be Some Changes: Management decided to replace the main track during the summer with Pro-Ride’s all-weather synthetic surface comprised of carefully graded sands, a unique cushioning agent and a patented polymeric binding agent. The cost: $6 million.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses: Since the track reopened for training Aug. 31 and the Oak Tree meeting began on Sept. 24, the surface has received rave notices owners, trainers and riders aiming to capture BC races Oct. 24-25.
Gary Stevens, a TV racing analyst who retired nearly three years with eight winning BC rides, called Santa Anita “the best track I’ve ever been on” after breezing two horses during a private session Aug. 30.
“It looks really and felt good in the first race,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano, who won three races opening day, including two victories over the synthetic surface. “It looks like it is very fair and it’s consistent.”
Victor Espinoza: “It feels like it is comfortable. I think it will be better with time.”
Mike Smith: “My mount in the third race handled it with no problems.”
David Flores: “It feels firm and was very comfortable.”
The praise continued following five Grade 1 races the last weekend in September.
The first synthetic surface to replace dirt at American thoroughbred track was installed at Remington Park in ’88. Equitrack proved unsatisfactory and dirt took its place three years later following complaints from horsemen and maintenance difficulties.
However, the first synthetic surface at American tracks replaced the turf course at Tropical Park in ’66. The rubberized surface, similar to Astroturf, was called Tartan. Developed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, it never was a success with horsemen.
The South Miami track, where the first legal race in Florida was run in ’31, gave way to Calder Race Course in Northwest Miami-Dade in ’71. Since Tropical’s demise, no other artificial grass surface has been installed.
"New Pro-Ride Surface Is Right On at Santa Anita" was posted on 7 October 2008 11:49 PM under Belmont Stakes, Horse Racing News, Horses, Kentucky Derby, Race Tracks, Special Features, Stakes Races
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