New Stronach Surface at Portland Meadows?

[tbrace]

I hear from trainers that Stronach is planning to test the surface that he want to put at Santa Anita, at his track in Portland, OR.

Anyone hear anything about this?

The plan is to install the track this summer, and run on it in the fall, or so I hear.

[TJ]

I hear from trainers that Stronach is planning to test the surface that he want to put at Santa Anita, at his track in Portland, OR.

Anyone hear anything about this?

The plan is to install the track this summer, and run on it in the fall, or so I hear.

Hi Tbrace,
At the meeting when Stronach announced the trial use of this new track, which is composed mainly of silica sand, he said he would try it at Palm Meadows in Florida. Palm Meadows is one of the best training surfaces in Florida and it would be a mistake to change it. I went to Palm Meadows to inquire about this and no one was notified that this was going to happen, so what you heard may be a possibility. The concern with this track is that silica sand is also used in sandblasting and there is a warning on the label that silica sand is hazardous to your health. Read this excerp from a material safety data sheet from Simplot Company which sells silica sand.....I did pass this on to Palm Meadows, but whether the material used for the track surface has similar properties as the silica used for sandblasting I don't know.....but I wouldn't be willing to find out. TJ

Ingestion: Not listed
Inhalation: Potential health effects of inhalation are as follows: Silicosis – Respirable crystalline silica (quartz) can cause silicosis, a
fibrosis (scarring) of the lungs. Silicosis may be progressive; it may lead to disability and death. Lung Cancer – Crystalline
silica (quartz) inhaled is classified by IARC as a carcinogen. Tuberculosis – Silicosis increases the risk of Tuberculosis.
Autoimmune and Chronic Kidney Disease – Some studies show excess numbers of cases of scleroderma, connective tissue
disorders, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases and end-stage kidney disease in workers exposed to respirable
crystalline silica. Non-Malignant Respiratory Diseases (other than Silicosis) – Some studies show an increased incidence in
chronic bronchitis and emphysema in workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica.
Eye Contact: Abrasive in eyes.
Skin Absorption: Not available.
Skin Contact: Not available.
Effects of Overdose: Acute Effects: short term exposure to silica may result in mild to temporary discomfort in the respiratory tract (similar to
nuisance dust). Short term exposure to excessive amounts of silica may cause severe inflammation of the lungs possibly
coupled with fluid in the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath and low blood oxygen levels. Excessive inhalation of crystalline
silica in a short time is a serious health concern.
Chronic Effects: long term exposure (10 years - 30 years), may result in pulmonary fibrosis (silicosis). Aggravates bronchitis,
asthma and emphysema.

[ireneinwa]

I heard it the same about Portland Meadows. Coming in from Japan? I believe and that the meet would be pushed back a month?

Why wish they should put a dirt track back in at Santa Anita.

[ireneinwa]

I don't think it could be the same surface as TJ said. That would be definitely againest regulations with the State of CA. Doesnt sound healthy for hoof or human.

[TJ]

I don't think it could be the same surface as TJ said. That would be definitely againest regulations with the State of CA. Doesnt sound healthy for hoof or human.

Hi Irene,
I would think it would be more than just against regulations in Ca. It would be insane.....like I said, it's possible they will be using another type of silica sand, but after reading the precautions with silica sand....I don't care what they tell me, I wouldn't run or train over it. I doubt they will dare touch Palm Meadows with that stuff....I'm sure there will be many horseman up in arms (on the east coast) if they did. Of all the racing surfaces in Florida, the Palm Meadows surface is the best...it has been the winter training grounds for many of the recent Derby winners....Funny Cide, Barbaro, Big Brown, Street Sense, Super Saver....to name a few...... Click on the link.....take note of the paragraph below nestled in the article. TJ
http://drf.com/news/article/114106.html
".....In addition, Stronach said that Santa Anita will not change its Pro-Ride synthetic main track until next spring at the earliest and identified as a possible replacement a silica sand-based material used at equestrian centers in Europe. Stronach did not identify the new surface by name and said a silica sand-based track would be installed at MID's Palm Meadows training center in Florida this fall, where it could be scrutinized by trainers and jockeys when the training center is operational next winter......."

[Jolene]

The 2010-2011 meet at Portland has not been pushed back; it will begin Monday, October 4. I have heard no plans for a radical change to the surface.

[foothillsequine]

The 2010-2011 meet at Portland has not been pushed back; it will begin Monday, October 4. I have heard no plans for a radical change to the surface.

I have heard different. While the plans are not firm at this time, there is a lot of discussion about it. The race dates have been set, but they have been for awhile. I heard that if this does happen, the meet will be pushed back, and the training track will remain open. Rumor mills abound at this point, and if anyone hears anything concrete, please post it. I sure hope it isn't the surface that TJ posted about, that stuff sounds like lung transplants waiting to happen , and that's the trainers, jockeys, gallopers etc. What about the dang horses?!

[ireneinwa]

Ill go down there this week and see if my trainer has heard anything new.

[Jolene]

I was just there Friday. Nothing is going on, except some work on some barns...even if pushed back a month, you'd think they'd want to get going on this so there would be time for trainers to adjust. There's been nothing about this brought up at the Oregon Racing Commission meetings, either. I mean, I wouldn't put it past Magna to try something like this, but it seems strange that this hasn't been brought up in a more formal setting.

[Jolene]

Of course, what's formality to Frank Stronach anyway. Given his recent antics with the CHRB, I suppose anything is possible.

[kimberley mine]

I don't think it could be the same surface as TJ said. That would be definitely againest regulations with the State of CA. Doesnt sound healthy for hoof or human.

after reading the precautions with silica sand....I don't care what they tell me, I wouldn't run or train over it.

Out of curiosity, what do you think sand is made of?

Do you go to the beach? Take your family to the beach? Do you ride on the beach, or gallop across the beach on your horses? Then you're exposing yourself, your family, and your horses to silica sand. All it means is that the sand is made of small quartz granules of a particle size between that of clay and gravel. It's called silica sand to distinguish the chemical makeup between quartz-based sand (sillicon dioxide) and gypsum sand, calcite sand, basalt sand, olivine sand, or a sand made of a blend of different minerals.

Here is a full, unabridged MSDS for silica sand: http://www.wavy.nl/02/Silica_sand_msds.pdf

Of particular relevance is this statement:

Although silica sand is not hazardous considering its granulometry, any respirable crystalline silica generated by processing silica sand may cause health effects.

By the time it gets to the track, any material involving silica sand will have been processed into the final product...a coarse, grainy SAND. The level of superfine quartz dust (respirable silica) will be well below the danger threshold, and every time it rains or the track is watered, it will wash away any superfine dust.

If you're not going to use an MSDS properly, don't bother. Just don't. You can scare yourself silly with an MSDS if you don't read the whole thing and pay attention to the doses, uses, and where it's found, and most of all the four numbers at the top that tell you how dangerous a chemical is.

Here is an MSDS for a common chemical that would give you nightmares to read, even though you have almost certainly been exposed to this substance, you did it intentionally, you keep it in your house, and the way you have been exposed to it is one of the ways it can kill you.

Acute Potential Health Effects: Skin: Causes skin irritation. It may be be absorbed through skin (particularly abraded skin) and activate dermal pain fibers and cause a burning sensation. There is some concern that XXXX may be potentially neurotoxic, although clinical studies with topical XXXX have not shown this to occur. It is thought to capable of elevating the heat pain threshold in treated skin areas. Eyes: Causes irritation with redness, pain, lacrimation, tearing, blepharospasm.
Inhalation: Causes respiratory tract and mucous membrane irritation with coughing, wheezing, burning sensation in nose and throat, laryngitis Ingestion: harmful if swallowed. Causes gastrointestinal tract irritation with burning sensation in the mouth and throat, headache, nausea, vomiting, watering eyes, and runny nose, shortness of breath. May affect behavior/central nervous system (convulsions, excitement, muscle contraction or spasticity). Chronic Potential Health Effects: Ingestion: Prolonged or repeated ingestion may affect metabolism, liver. Inhalation: Prolonged or repeated inhalation may cause severe chronic bronchitis

It also makes salsa, vindaloo, buffalo wings, tacos, and tabasco sauce taste good, and has been known to help people with arthritis deal with the pain.

[TJ]

I don't think it could be the same surface as TJ said. That would be definitely againest regulations with the State of CA. Doesnt sound healthy for hoof or human.

after reading the precautions with silica sand....I don't care what they tell me, I wouldn't run or train over it.

Out of curiosity, what do you think sand is made of?

I'm no geologist, so if you're curious, go look it up. I just checked on silica sand as it's used for sand blasting.....you can read what the manufacturer says about that. If the silica sand that Stronach will use is of another composite and is not toxic.....fine, but it is something that should be looked into. TJ

[kimberley mine]

TJ, I was being facetious there...added to my original post.

Sand is NOT TOXIC. Sand made from quartz, as opposed to the gypsum sand at White Sands, New Mexico, is no more toxic than the mixed-mineral sand at the beach.

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, as you have probably guessed by now.

[TJ]

TJ, I was being facetious there...added to my original post.

Sand is NOT TOXIC. Sand made from quartz, as opposed to the gypsum sand at White Sands, New Mexico, is no more toxic than the mixed-mineral sand at the beach.

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, as you have probably guessed by now.

Well, that's good to know (I was being facetious there:>).....but I'll agree to disagree with you. The fact is there will be plenty dust being churned up and the breakdown of the silica sand when a full field of horses run over it.....truth is a horse can suck up the sand granules themselves during the running......it's people that prefer it as dust:>) Even these synthetic tracks are hazardous to a horses respiratory system. I'll stick to running my horses on dirt so when I flush out their head, or scope them I'll know what I'm looking at. TJ

[kimberley mine]

.truth is a horse can suck up the sand granules themselves during the running......it's people that prefer it as dust:>) Even these synthetic tracks are hazardous to a horses respiratory system. I'll stick to running my horses on dirt

Dirt?

http://dom.lafarge-na.com/lafargena/Laf ... penElement

so when I flush out their head, or scope them I'll know what I'm looking at. TJ

Yep. Quartz particles of varying sizes (sands, silts, and clays)--aka silica, iron-bearing minerals some of which contain silica, and decaying organic material.