| Located a mere 14 miles from downtown Los | | | | with Polytrack (made of crushed rubber, sand, fiber, |
| Angeles, California, Santa Anita Park is home to the | | | | and wax), Cushion Track (also made of a unique blend |
| 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships. For the first | | | | of sand, synthetics and wax), Safetrack (comprised of |
| time in the event's history, its main event, the Breeders' | | | | synthetic and fiber enhanced materials), Tapeta (made |
| Cup Classic, will be raced on a synthetic track. While | | | | of sand, wax and fibers), and Pro-Ride (made of |
| some trainers approve of the move to an all-weather | | | | similar materials but is more elastic and adaptable to |
| main track, there are those who feel the so-called | | | | hotter temperatures) being the more popular synthetic |
| safety benefits aren't entirely accurate. | | | | options. |
| What do the statistics say? | | | | What do the trainers think of synthetic racetracks? |
| According to horse racing reports released last April | | | | Although all of Fame thoroughbred horse trainer Nick |
| (gathered by veterinarians from 42 participating | | | | Zito admitted to liking synthetic tracks for training |
| racetracks), the number of injuries leading to deaths on | | | | purposes, he doesn't agree with a nation-wide move |
| dirt tracks is up (from March), while the number of | | | | to synthetic racetracks. |
| injuries occurred on synthetic tracks have dropped. | | | | "I don't want to run on anything made from my attic," |
| March dirt injuries leading to fatalities: 244 from 123,890 | | | | said Zito. "I've been in this game since I was 15. God |
| thoroughbred starters (or a ratio of 1.96 per 1,000). | | | | made dirt and God made grass. I'm very upset about |
| March synthetic surface injuries leading to deaths: 58 | | | | this business right now." |
| from 29,744 thoroughbred starters (or a 1.95 per 1,000 | | | | Another top trainer, Bob Baffert, shares Zito's opinions |
| ratio). | | | | of the stuff. Baffert says that because the horses |
| In April that ratio rose to 2.02 fatalities on dirt and 1.47 | | | | can't dig into the track like they can on dirt, the |
| on artificial surfaces per 1,000 starters. A more | | | | thoroughbred's hind legs may become more |
| complete and accurate report on death-related injuries | | | | susceptible to injury and as a result he has seen more |
| occurring in the months since April is not currently | | | | rear end injuries and soreness. On the other hand, top |
| available since not all racetracks have agreed to | | | | Kentucky Derby trainer Eoin Harty (Colonel John's |
| include their injury reports. A new national racetrack | | | | trainer) believes synthetic tracks are a God send and |
| injury database is in the works, but even that has been | | | | a career saver. |
| hard to piece together. | | | | "I do know for a fact it keeps them sounder," Harty |
| Mary Scollay, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission | | | | said. "Your primary obligation as a trainer is to do |
| equine medical director who heads the injury database | | | | what's in the best interest for the owner and the |
| creation project (along with The Jockey Club), says | | | | horse. If you can prolong a horse's career, that's going |
| that the commission should do more to get the | | | | to keep him sounder. That's your No. 1 obligation." |
| participation by all licensed veterinarians in order to | | | | Still, the bottom-line belief coming from advocates of |
| provide a more accurate report. | | | | this much-needed surface change believe that |
| "It is time for us to start being more direct in our | | | | synthetic tracks are easier on horses than |
| approach in tracking non-racing related injuries," Scollay | | | | conventional dirt tracks. They say it's more resilient, |
| said. "I would like the committee to recommend to the | | | | that the horses bounce over it instead of hitting it with |
| commission that licensed veterinarians be required to | | | | a thud, and that in the end it will reduce injuries and |
| participate in the database." | | | | keep horses running more productively. |
| The Jockey Club vice president of corporate | | | | With the 2008 Breeders' Cup only a few weeks |
| communications, Bob Curran, agrees with Scollay and | | | | away, it remains to be seen what Rick Dutrow, the |
| adds that a further study of both dirt and synthetic | | | | outspoken trainer of Breeders' Cup favorite Big Brown, |
| track surfaces is essential to the transparency of the | | | | thinks of Santa Anita's synthetic track. For now, the |
| sport. | | | | enigmatic trainer maintains he's doing what he can to |
| Is California ahead of the field? | | | | prepare his horse for the race of his life. Since Big |
| In an effort to increase its racing season and to | | | | Brown's Belmont Stakes bomb, the 2008 Kentucky |
| improve the safety of its thoroughbreds and riders, | | | | Derby and 2008 Preakness Stakes winner has gone |
| California horse racing officials have made synthetic | | | | on to win three more races. And what about Big |
| main tracks a mandate at all racetracks. | | | | Brown's big nemesis, Curlin? The champion's owners |
| Santa Anita's all-weather main track opened for | | | | are taking a pass on the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic |
| training on September 4, 2007, and for racing at the | | | | because they are not willing to jeopardize the health of |
| start of the 39th annual Oak Tree Racing Association | | | | their horse just to win against Big Brown on Santa |
| meet on September 26, 2007. The track is a one mile | | | | Anita's synthetic track. This may change as the date |
| oval with two chutes and measures 1 1/4-mile and | | | | draws near, however. |
| seven furlongs. The distance from the last turn to finish | | | | The 2008 Breeders' Cup will be televised live on ESPN |
| line measures 990 feet, with the homestretch width | | | | and ABC on October 24th and 25th. Even if you're not |
| coming in at 85 feet and the backstretch width at 80 | | | | planning on placing any bets on the 2008 Breeders' |
| feet. Other synthetic, all-weather surfaces have been | | | | Cup, be sure to tune into this must-see television event. |
| tested and installed at racetracks around the country, | | | | |