Archives > Synthetic Surfaces
- What's Lost
- ... when newspaper reporters on the racing beat are laid off or retired, then replaced by general sports writers, who might be fine journalists but have little understanding of the sport or the industry and its ongoing stories, is exemplified in this dull bit of LA Times reporting on SoCal synthetic surface tracks, which rehashes every point every racing fan or even vaguely interested reader has already come across elsewhere, padded out by press release quality quotes....
- [Posted September 4, 2008 1:00 PM]
- ---
- Synthetic Notes
- It was inevitable that a synthetic surfaces forum convened by the New York Task Force on Retired Racehorses would have its dry bits, but for the most part, the Tuesday event was lively and informative, with panelists going in-depth on several subjects of interest to (and much speculation among) handicappers and fans. A couple themes emerged through the day: Whether talking about maintenance, cost, benefits, or safety, too much of the debate over synthetics is driven by anecdote, more data and long-term studies are required on both dirt and artificial surfaces, and that when it comes to starts and breakdowns,...
- [Posted July 29, 2008 10:30 PM]
- ---
- Call Him Crazy
- ... because Jeremy Plonk likes handicapping synthetic surfaces such as Del Mar: I like that endurance is demanded, pedigrees weed out some of the weaklings, and that four-furlong, morning-glory speedballs suddenly look like the afternoon chumps they should be. Call me crazy too, I'm also a fan of the synthetic era....
- [Posted July 17, 2008 4:45 PM]
- ---
- I Heart Synthetics
- Thanks for all the great comments on this post linking to Andrew Beyer's column about the Blue Grass. I'm reminded of why I enjoy this game so much: It's a perpetual puzzle that attracts smart people and spirited discussion, and it's one of the few hobbies or pursuits that doesn't just reward contrarianism, but practically demands it. I like synthetic surfaces: I went to Turfway in 2006 to see Polytrack up close, I started following the Southern California circuit with the advent of Cushion Track at Hollywood, I prefer playing Keeneland Polytrack to Keeneland dirt. Putting aside the safety question,...
- [Posted April 17, 2008 12:30 PM]
- ---
- More Research Needed
- The Racehorse Welfare and Safety Summit wrapped on Tuesday with a lengthy list of action items, including a few that have to do with synthetic surfaces, a major topic of discussion during the two-day affair. In one panel, Dr. Mary Scollay presented preliminary statistics showing nearly identical fatality rates for synthetic and conventional tracks (although synthetic surface rates had initially been lower and the figures reported did not include California tracks), while in another, track superintendents discussed the care of synthetics. Turns out, the surfaces aren't as maintenance free as touted: "I think what we found out is ... you...
- [Posted March 19, 2008 4:45 PM]
- ---
- Privileging Speed
- "You have to go to a bull ring like Great Lakes Downs to find a similar speed bias," writes Dick Powell of Gulfstream's main track speed bias during last year's meet, raising a point I've touched on here in posts about synthetic surfaces: Can you imagine the outcry if this was a synthetic racing surface and it had such a pronounced bias? Synthetic racing surface critics pounded Del Mar's Polytrack this summer yet where are they with Gulfstream's main track? Just like a speed horse was at a big disadvantage trying to go two turns on Del Mar's main track,...
- [Posted January 5, 2008 4:00 PM]
- ---
- Handicapping Polytrack
- Del Mar opens Wednesday with a new Polytrack surface and reduced banking on the turns (DRF+) and cautious handicappers will watch intently the meet's first days (North County Times) to see how the synthetic track plays. Almost certainly, the surface will evince qualities noted on other synthetics. It'll be fairer, kinder to closers, crueler to speed. For those wondering how to handle this strange new world in which speed doesn't always rule, Del Mar offers a James Quinn piece on Polytrack handicapping (PDF). I'm no Quinn, but here's what I've noticed about synthetic surfaces: - Fewer races are won wire-to-wire...
- [Posted July 17, 2007 7:45 PM]
- ---