Uh-Oh!!

[Lost Cause]

Synthetic track meeting in New York.  


http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/46028.htm

[Uncle Buck]

Running the Acqeduct winter inner dirt meeting on synthetic is a good idea. But leave the other surfaces alone IMO

[congaree1]

IMO,polly and synthetic are totally differant. I have not played Keeneland, Arlington, Turfway, Woodbine or Delmar since they applied the stuff. I am all for the safety of the horse, but do the stats show that synthetic as lowered the fatality rate in a big way?

[miff]

During the New York franchise issue, ie NYRA renewal, some low level assistant to the formerly powerful racing Senator (Larkin) whispered about synthetic surfaces during the hearings.The next thing you know, it becomes an integral part of the terms and conditions of the NYRA renewal.

It is mandated that synths be looked into and the NY horseman are split into those who want it and those who oppose it.At least in the case of NY,there will be some consideration for what the players prefer,unlike what happened in Cali.

Unfortunately, the politicians hold the power, so it will be their call.I can see it already \"POLYTOGA\"


Mike

[miff]

IMO,polly and synthetic are totally differant. I have not played Keeneland, Arlington, Turfway, Woodbine or Delmar since they applied the stuff. I am all for the safety of the horse, but do the stats show that synthetic as lowered the fatality rate in a big way?

Cong,

.......yes!

[richiebee]

Uncle:

Agree that synthetic at the winter Aq meeting might not be bad, and some would
say that the current inner dirt course and the old 3M surface at Calder were the
first synthetic surfaces.

Synthetic installation at Belmont-- I contend that there would be very little
impact here. Under the PJ Campo regime at NYRA, we have seen
the \"Colonialization\" of Belmont, where Belmont racing is basically turf racing
open to all skill(?) levels resulting in cards which have 50% or so of the
races carded for the turf.

Synthetic at the Spa-- ouch. Hard to imagine that installing synthetic is cost
effective for a 36 day meet, but the true infidels could have a great time if
the meet was expanded (again) and synthetic was installed. But if someone wants
to do a class project, count how many races at this upcoming Saratoga meet are
run over the grass or over a sloppy main track. My guess is the number would be
somewhere near 70%.

New York Racing needs to bolster itself in the next couple of years (slots at
Aq), because NY\'s next Gov could be NYC\'s current Mayor, who has exhibited an
almost puritanical intolerance of racing and wagering. (Also an interesting
proposition because I do not think any NYC mayor has gone on to be governor).

[jimbo66]

Richiebee,

Not sure what your point is on the 70% of Saratoga races being run on either turf or sloppy main track.  Is that an argument for or against Polytrack?  Either way, your stat is quite a bit out of line.  Last year was 44%, by my count.

If the put poly in at Saratoga, my wife might finally get her biggest wish, that I give up horse-racing.  Poly or any kind of synthetic at Saratoga is blasphemous IMO.  

How about we keep a little bit of tradition in the game.

And, NO, poly and synthetic is not analagous to the DH in baseball, interleague play in baseball and the two-point conversion in football.  And, oh by the way, none of those advents are any good either............

[richiebee]

Jimbo:

My point about off tracks/turf racing was similar to the point I was making
about synthetic at Belmont--that under the current NYRA regime it seems like
fewer and fewer races are contested over a fast traditional dirt surface.

Personally, I think that NYRA should retain dirt surfaces at all of its
facilities and establish itself as the dirt racing vortex of American Racing;
this includes hosting a big day of Graded dirt races either the weekend before
the BC or possibly on the same Saturday as the BC.

Sorry to hear that Ms Jimbo is not wholeheartedly supportive of your racing and
wagering ventures.