| Now that we have seen poly tracks installed at many | | | | deciphering a race that was to be run on the grass, |
| race tracks in the United States and Canada, the | | | | only to have it switched to the dirt track because of |
| betting public seems to have gotten as big a break | | | | rain? |
| as the horses who run on them. The poly tracks | | | | Many people really love to watch the animals run on |
| seem to offer a more cushioned surface for the | | | | grass, it seems so natural and less stressful than |
| animals and that is good news. It reduces the strain | | | | pounding along on a hard dirt surface, but when the |
| on their fragile legs and reduces injuries. | | | | grass gets too wet and slippery, the races are |
| Reducing injuries is good news for everyone involved | | | | shifted to the dirt track which may be muddy, unless |
| in the industry, not just the horses. While many of us | | | | it's a synthetic surface, of course. |
| were raised on dirt races run on natural surfaces, and | | | | If they can make a synthetic dirt surface and race |
| tradition notwithstanding, I think most of us would | | | | on it in all kinds of weather, is there an equivalent for |
| like to see more tracks install a synthetic surface. | | | | turf races? Though it may not be the real thing, if it |
| Handicapping horse races on the man made surfaces | | | | was safer for the horses and jockeys and kept the |
| also seems to eliminate the problem of tracks, | | | | races on the same track for us handicappers, it |
| though a wet poly track really doesn't seem to play | | | | would be a good thing. |
| exactly like a dry one. Now here is a question for | | | | As horse racing continues to evolve and change with |
| you handicappers who spend hours handicapping | | | | the times, it seems that it is only a matter of time |
| races. How many times have you spent a lot of time | | | | before synthetic turf replaces real grass. |