Sticking With Synthethic

Although Santa Anita president Ron Charles was careful to say no decision had been made to renovate the track's synthetic surface or install dirt in time for the Breeders' Cup, owner Frank Stronach strongly hinted the track would keep its synthetic surface for now after meeting with trainers and owners on Sunday, reports the LA Times:

"I personally prefer dirt, but the majority of the horsemen I met with like synthetic. So I figure if we are this far into it, we should give a synthetic track another year or two, then make a change if we need to."

So, I guess Pyro won't be running out west this fall.

Addendum: Thanks to fellow blogger David for mentioning Stronach's Sunday HRTV interview in which he spoke as a breeder and seemed to be leaning towards a new dirt track. More about those comments on View From the Quarter Pole.

Posted by JC, Apr 21, 2008 09:55 AM

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Well, I guess this flip-flop shouldn't have surprised me, but if you watched the television interview on HRTV yesterday, you couldn't help but conclude Mr. Stronach was committed to re-installing a dirt surface at Santa Anita.

I remember when Frank's first announcement after purchasing Santa Anita included plans to tear up the hill course. Cooler heads prevailed there as well.

Posted by David M, Apr 21, 2008 01:58 PM

Did you read the article in the Daily News today?

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/04/20/2008-04-20_the_day_at_the_races.html

We live in interesting times.

f.

Posted by Fran Jurga, Apr 21, 2008 06:53 PM

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