Is Del Mar's new Polytrack unsafe?

[CA Michael]

Information provided to CTBAboardwatch indicates that the new polytrack installed at Del Mar racetrack may lead to hind-end physical problems.

Del Mar unveiled its new $9 million surface on April 25. Twelve horses were invited to gallop over it that day, and the material initially drew rave reviews from their trainers.

However, sources from two of the participating barns have told CTBAboardwatch that their horses subsequently showed soreness in their hind quarters, apparently due to the track's poor "slide," or downward movement of the horses' rear hooves into the polytrack.

Del Mar management offered only a "no comment" when asked about the criticism. Adding to speculation that the surface may not be safe for horses was Del Mar's website manager Mary Shepardson's shutdown of discussion about it on the "Fan Forum.". Reportedly Shepardson permanently banned posters who commented on Del Mar's polytrack.

Del Mar's summer meet opens on July 18. Why is management there so secretive about its racetrack safety?

[Rokeby Forever]

Great....let's install this crap all over over the country!!!! Idiots!

Nice to know that horses now have backsides more sore than The Village People had.

[bdw0617]

I wonder how long that ice rink URRRRRRRRRr poly track over at arlington is going to hold up

I gotta tell ya... I've given up all hope trying to win anything at Arlington since the beginning of the meet. it's unreal. I've seen horses who couldn't loose if they tried come on the track and come in dead last. I've seen mules come in and win stake races.

[Tucumcari]

[quote="CA Michael"]Information provided to CTBAboardwatch indicates that the new polytrack installed at Del Mar racetrack may lead to hind-end physical problems.

Duh.... so does cushion track. Thus the many pelvic, tibia fractures, hocks and stifles on every synthetic surface installed in NA. This is not news. Or rather this is not new news.
There isn't a track surface natural or man made that will be a hundred percent safe. Ever.

Del Mar's summer meet opens on July 18. Why is management there so secretive about its racetrack safety?

Why are people so hell bent on blaming track surface for the injuries of the equine athlete?

[Sam]

Why are people so hell bent on blaming track surface for the injuries of the equine athlete?

Because to put the blame where it belongs would mean they'd have to accept responsibility for their own idiocy.

give me 2 minutes then check your PMs

[CA Michael]

Anyone who doesn't think racetrack composition and maintenance are paramount factors in keeping horses sound hasn't been closer to the horses there than the saddling paddock. Horsemen universally understand that consistency in racetrack surfaces prevent injuries; those without cushion create undue concussion on limbs which ultimately leads to premature deterioration.

Tracks should be held accountable by horsemen and players for the quality of their racing surfaces. Breeders should be held accountable for flocking to space age breeding stock incapable of reproducing soundness. Trainers should be held responsible for properly conditioning their horses. Only a unified effort will create full fields of fast and sound racehorses. Until then, each segment of our industry should stop pointing the finger at the others and just do their job.

[Sam]

No one is denying that track conditions CAN play a part in injuries... but anyone who thinks it's the ONLY reason horses break down are living in a fantasy world and are completely ignorant of their own misdeeds.

[CA Michael]

Whoever said it is the only reason?

[adrienne]

I wonder how long that ice rink URRRRRRRRRr poly track over at arlington is going to hold up

I gotta tell ya... I've given up all hope trying to win anything at Arlington since the beginning of the meet. it's unreal. I've seen horses who couldn't loose if they tried come on the track and come in dead last. I've seen mules come in and win stake races.

HEY now, LoL, we changed assistant trainers, ok?

Overall, I am getting the feeling that we have less layups than last year.

By this time last year we had:
3 bowed tendons
1 broken knee (euthanized on track)
1 shattered seasmoid (braced and retained as broodmare)
1 new osselots/sore ankles
1 cracked cannon (laid up 180 days)
1 bucked shin (2 year old)
2 pulled stifles (2 year olds)

This was from a total of 43 horses in training.

Right now I have:
2 knee chips (90 days pasture for one, broodmare duty for the other)
1 pulled stifle

This is from 30 horses in training.

I think a lot of this is the change in guard at the track.... but I think it also does have to do with at least some improvement on the track surface. I just hope it maintains OVER TIME.

~Adrienne

[Tucumcari]

It is interesting.. the injuries that have occurred. Not necessarily the usual shit. Though it does continue to be alot of the same guys.
Itty Bitty Pretty had her tibia come thru her leg at the 3/8 pole,one could say that is unusual severity for a tibia injury. Later that morning... not too much later another horse from the same barn breaks down just past the wire. Lugging in down the lane and never switched off off the ill fated limb.
Then the two horses that did their humerous' a couple days apart. Also odd injury. Those two came out of the same barn. Pelvis' ....etc.
I'm not sure, but that's what I witnessed from my comfy spot outside the paddock. Nothing but rest and the beauty and pagentry of horse racing to occupy my time.

[Rokeby Forever]

How many times has Art Sherman been nailed on positives? Yeah, Polyshit is gonna keep his stock sound.

Has it occurred to anyone that Polyshit was developed in England...where they know NOTHING about dirt racing?

Are trainers at Del Mar already stocked up on Pam Cooking Spray? Or will vendors be selling it at concession stands?

[griff]

I often hear how awful dirt tracks are on a horse and now i hear how awful polytrack is on a horse.

Is turf really the only acceptable way to race a horse or is there also something wrong with racing them on grass??/

griff

[Tucumcari]

How many times has Art Sherman been nailed on positives? Yeah, Polyshit is gonna keep his stock sound.

Has it occurred to anyone that Polyshit was developed in England...where they know NOTHING about dirt racing?

Are trainers at Del Mar already stocked up on Pam Cooking Spray? Or will vendors be selling it at concession stands?

Sherman, Koriner.... same vet...hmmmm
They won't need Pam as the wax will be melted from the heat and not stick to a thing

[Supernova]

What about Woodbines poly, when they put it in there was a breakdown every morning for nearly 2-3 weeks. They've just re-done the surface and apparently are having the same problem.

[CA Michael]

griff,

I don't think anyone is saying the Del Mar polytrack is awful. Like most things new, it apparently needs some fine tuning (like Hollywood Park's cushion track did). Dirt tracks are fine tuned all the time by adding or subtracting material, and by harrowing.

The point of the initial post is that Del Mar management is once again being ingenuous with the public and the horsemen about its new track. It is without question the most pompous racing association in California.

Exclusive use of grass courses is impractical for American-style meets because they are torn up far too quickly. In addition, they can become as dangerous, if not more so, than dirt tracks. A hard turf course is often more punishing than a dirt course, and a well used grass track will usually have holes that easily snap off legs.