presque isle

mightyhijames · Postby **mightyhijames** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:29 am

what's really going on up at presque isle? the racing form reports the track surface was adjusted after the breakdown on day one and everything is fine. yet forum chatter makes it sound like the surface is terrible and there have been more than one breakdown.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:25 pm

Wasn't there one on opening day... second day and I don't know what in between.. then Super Frolic on the weekend.... Of course you cannot blame the surface solely as I belive the horses did not stable at the track, but were shippers... anyone confirm or otherwise?

caraway · Postby **caraway** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:45 pm

I was up there again yesterday and the track looked fine to me. My filly came back sound after her race (so did a gelding I ran there the beginning of the meet). Not sure if the horses that broke down had unsoundness issues to begin with??

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:55 pm

Not only was there a breakdown in the FIRST RACE, it was a breakdown on the FIRST RACE ANYWHERE in the US on Tapeta. Michael Dickinson was understandably VERY upset. I'm sure the people at GGF were going, "Oh NO!!!" I guess it has mellowed out since then, but not looking as good as Polytrack.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:41 pm

the track is fine and many horses are thriving on it but the shippers may need a race or two if they are not yet legged up on this new surface, sore horses need a rest not another track surface. Well designed track for a small clientele, not overspent like many new or refurbished plants. The barns are close to the paddock and the grandstand is next door. After the opening day rush it has settled well , I was licenced in 5 minutes at a reasonable cost and the casino is through an archway from the buffet, not bad at all. It's a minute from the interstate and surrounded by motels and restaurants, not bad!

StayOutFront · Postby **StayOutFront** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:35 pm

There was also a breakdown in the fourth race tonight. The horse was odds-on, winning in convincing fashion, when he broke something as he crossed the wire. Someone watching the replay said the horse went down after a few strides (I stopped watching).

BridledObsession · Postby **BridledObsession** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 5:55 am

I'm trying to make heads or tails out of what everyone is saying.

We've been thinking of taking a horse up there. Bottom line, if you have a horse that has not run on an artificial surface, would you go? If so, how would you prepare? Our one horse will be coming back off of a couple month layoff. Is it wise for his first race back to be on that surface?

nferro9925 · Postby **nferro9925** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:40 am

Risk Assessment broke down yesterday & was euthanized on the track.
I would be very hesitant on bringing a horse there just now.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:10 am

The chart said that Sheppards filly that won and broke down after the wire was ridden out hard for the victory and was vanned off after breaking down past the wire. I did not witness it but I had friends there that both won that night in fact one was a cheapie from here at Fort Erie.The track is hardly to blame and as most of you know it is scary galloping out after a driving finish, just one misstep can be a disaster.After watching the replay it was ugly indeed and odd that it should happen at the wire itself where the filly crumpled to the ground , not even galloping out. The video quality was not the best but there was no evidence that she tried to jump the finish line shadow.

caraway · Postby **caraway** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:10 am

My filly has ran well over Poly and did fine there but my 3 yr old gelding has never been on Poly and didnt run a lick on it. I would recommend maybe taking your horse up there a little earlier and have one of the riders get on him in the morning. I know Miguel Mena gallops in the mornings there.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:51 am

Tapeta: Soles and foam may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:44 pm

LOL...
I think that SOME of the synthetics equate very well to dirt.
At Del MAr, fit horses that had run over the surface and just worked a half were coming back blowing like crazy and wobbly legged... It seemed as though horses did ship well to it.. and it did favor the tactical and closing styles... I know personally I would cringe when one of our horses was on the fence as it was strangelya very dead place to be. Even when I worked a horse I would go wide as oppposed to hugging the fence. A horse getting a wide trip was often the victor.
I think getting a horse fit on them is a good thing.. thoughI do wonder about bone density develpoment, etc.
Del Mar's track has been very good to horses coming to Santa Anita and likely Hollywood. At SA they are rolling... I bet the track is about 2 seconds faster than it ought to be.. now they are screwing with it trying to slow it down some. Safety with the speed does not seem to be a huge issue, horses are coming back quite well after their 46 and change halves and aren't overly stressed in doing so.
The synthetics do seem to translate well, but there are questions that still need to be addressed. Like the same surface in the same environment/climate being so much faster than the other... Will speed carry, will it be speed bias and closers have no shot...
I think that Hollywood, Del Ma, and now the new Tapeta surface are swimming upsteam when they install a surface and then immediately a full barn area and a full race card daily occurs... track maintenance has no shot at knowing what or how to deal with the surface, and then it takes a pounding from (like I said) a full barn area.
I don't mind cushion. And I think they run well off of it.
Sorry to ramble on and likely not answer your question much at all