best and worst racetracks
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wilf
- Breeder's Cup Contender
- Posts: 1882
- Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:50 am
- Location: Ocala, Florida.
Hey FOS thanks for the kind comments especially coming from one who has been on the receiving end of several vitriolic attacks lately. I must agree that Jellacs treatise on Texas tracks was thorough and very extensive surely deserving of a Ph D in track maintainance . It is a never ending subject and in a few weeks I will be driving straight into the heart of another mystery as we find out how the COMPLETE rebuilding of Fort Erie"s surface has worked out. Wish me luck. The races start May 1st.
Philly Park is different day by day, depending on our weather. The winters can leave the base uneven. I've had a few catastrophic breakdowns there. Recently it's been running very fast, 1:09 for $10,000 claimers who used to do 1:11. Most of think it is because the cushion has washed away. The rail holds excess water on wet days, so if you ever watch on a wet day, all the horses are in the middle of the track down the stretch. Hoping slots will help with this someday soon.
I do love to watch them work on Satatoga though in the summer. I was kind of sorry to see them bring in Frank Passero as the fellow they had there, Jerry, was doing a great job. They post a track board every day in the grandstand showing exactly how deep the cushion is at intervals all over the track, I see them measuring with a rod. That track is wonderfully maintained and so is Belmont and Santa Anita. It's actually fun to watch them work it.
I do love to watch them work on Satatoga though in the summer. I was kind of sorry to see them bring in Frank Passero as the fellow they had there, Jerry, was doing a great job. They post a track board every day in the grandstand showing exactly how deep the cushion is at intervals all over the track, I see them measuring with a rod. That track is wonderfully maintained and so is Belmont and Santa Anita. It's actually fun to watch them work it.