Enough years where we know the weather up there and doesn't favor the turf being good, they do need to consider a tapeta track for sure.   

What technology does Colonial use, who seem to have a boutique meet but one that is safer and rarely have to close the turf or have horses scratched out of a turf race?

SAR doesn't interest me anyway, too many maiden turf and maiden claiming races at 5.5F turf.  But still wanting to know how colonial does it and what would improve both the dirt and turf tracks.  

It's never "one thing".    It's a combination of things:  track surface, permissive drug/medications (both while training and racing in races that allow it like lasix, stacked NSAIDs, etc.),  unwillingness to spend more money to have Several truly expert radiographer vets who can evaluate changes in legs that are outside the norm (on 1000-1200 horses like at SAR or Oaklawn during a meet, they need staff to make this happen and they don't have the right ratio of staff to accomplish better safety, etc.  

 

TexSquared said...

I honestly think a major reason NYRA won't just make the 1 1/2 mile Bel main track Tapeta is because it would mark the end of Secretariat's track records at 9 and 12f.

Another good catch.  

As is bisket's note that the surfaces installed were supported by those making a hard-sell there and were technically part of the powers-that-be. 

 

SameSteve G said...

The DB updated overnight.  I now count 7.   Just an FYI

On Sunday,  Ever Summer broke down and was euthanized.  Filly, rider was Irad. 

so, up to 8 fatalities in 24-25 days at SAR.    That's too many.  I am not expecting zero  but 8 is a lot in that time period. 

I get most of the media sites for horse racing in my Facebook feed. An article about the Jim Dandy popped up. It described the stretch as Forte’s jockey made it through a small opening on his way to winning the race. Lol blocked them instantly. they’ll circle the wagons on this situation as well. I hope for no more breakdowns, but if it keeps happening on national tv there’s really not a lot they can do. Fox will find something else for afternoon programming. This could have been a great thing for horse racing. 

Sunday's fatality appears in the DB as a racing fatality on the Inner Turf course. The horse and rider are not listed in the DB but this must be Ever Summer.  

Wintertrian said:

What technology does Colonial use, who seem to have a boutique meet but one that is safer and rarely have to close the turf or have horses scratched out of a turf race?

Colonial is dirt as far as I know.  No way they could afford Tapeta for that short meet (nor can you expect a track owned by CDI to ever consider synthetic).   I know the main track is a rare one, 1 1/4 miles around with a 1 1/8 mile chute, and the turf course is double wide and 1 1/8 miles around (so kind of like a bigger Arlington -- one super-wide course where they can place the rails at all sorts of distances).  

Glad they decided to give Colonial the Arlington Million rather than keep it at Churchill Downs. (that decision was made long before Churchill's safety issues came up, in case it sounds like that had a part in it; it did not)

By the way, Trainer Brendan Walsh, whose Pretty Mischievous was awarded the victory in Saturday’s Test at Saratoga, delivered the blanket of flowers given to the races winner to trainer Melanie Giddings, whose Maple Leaf Mel broke down steps before the finish line.

I hear that outfit is a class act, and that was a nice move by the Walsh barn to do this for Maple Leaf Mel.

and it happened again today... horse with a clear lead breaks down mid stretch.   

Lost another in a grass allowance earlier. I heard a horse died this morning training on the dirt track. 3 in one day. 

can you give me the race numbers, I had to shut down my computer 3x today already, we have some blackouts due to the heat which was 111 heat index the day before yesterday but "only" 106 heat index today.  :) 

Also who broke down in training?