Santa Anita Race Track to switch back to dirt?

[Reno Paul]

Would be nice to switch the racing surface back to dirt from those ground up tires....

Santa Anita | Posted 1/18/2010, 5:07 pm

Santa Anita mulls dirt return

By Steve AndersenARCADIA, Calif. - Santa Anita canceled Monday's racing program, citing the synthetic track's inability to drain properly after a day of rain, and track officials acknowledged for the first time that they are considering a return to a dirt track later this year.
"There have been discussions knowing we're going to have to replace this racetrack after this meet," track president Ron Charles said. "The options are out there to return to dirt."
In the most likely scenario, Santa Anita could replace its Pro-Ride track this summer, when the track is closed for renovation during the Del Mar meeting in late July and August.
California Horse Racing Board chairman Keith Brackpool said Monday that the racing board "would be open" to replacing a synthetic track with a dirt track. Under chairman Richard Shapiro, the racing board in 2006 mandated that California's Thoroughbred tracks install synthetic surfaces. Golden Gate Fields, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park also have synthetic tracks.
Regardless of whether the track installs a dirt track, a massive renovation will be needed to improve drainage, Charles said.
"What happened is frustrating," Charles said of Monday's cancellation. "It clearly won't drain.
"We know there is more rain coming. We can't put anybody at risk. As frustrating as it is, as much work as we did, it's so disappointing."
Santa Anita has had drainage trouble with its synthetic track since the original Cushion Track was installed in August 2007. Eleven days of racing were canceled in the winter of 2007-08 because the surface did not drain properly. That led officials to overhaul the surface with Pro-Ride synthetic material in February 2008 and more extensively in the summer of 2008.
No racing days were lost during the 2008-09 meeting, but as recently as last month, two days of training were canceled after about 3 inches of rain fell.
The installation of synthetic surfaces in California has divided trainers and owners. Last year, Jess Jackson said he would not run Rachel Alexandra in the Breeders' Cup because he did not want to race her over a synthetic surface.
Monday may not be the only day of racing lost this week. Santa Anita was to be dark on Tuesday and Wednesday, with racing scheduled to resume Thursday. But a series of predicted rainstorms through the week could jeopardize Thursday's seven-race program.
Approximately 1 1/2 inches of rain fell from mid-afternoon on Sunday until lunchtime Monday, leaving Santa Anita's Pro-Ride main track saturated, with standing water visible.
Officials and a group of jockeys walked the final turn of the track at 11:30 a.m. Monday. Jockeys said the surface was uneven.
Jockey Joe Talamo said the surface had soft spots in places from the three-eighths pole to the quarter pole. "If you didn't watch it, it was slippery," Talamo said. "There were soft spots."
Charles said no decision had been made on whether to race Thursday.
"We'll see how much work the track gets and give everyone an earlier answer if we'll have trouble on Thursday," Charles said. "I think what we need to do is see what happens after" Monday night.
The $150,000 San Marcos Stakes was among the races canceled on Monday and has been rescheduled for Sunday.

[Old-Timer]

That would Good.. Check-Out

The #3 in the 4th at Big A and the #3 in the 5th at the Big A If your playing.

[Reno Paul]

I missed your plays Old Timer......No Santa Anita again, but Los Alamitos is on for Thursday night as of now....Probably will make a few plays and watch it on TVG.

No Friday racing at Santa Anita

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By Sports Network

The Sports Network

Santa Anita Park has been forced to cancel its Friday racing program because of the large amount rain that has fallen in the area. The track cancelled Thursday's race card on Wednesday after doing the same on Monday.
"We're told that the heavy rain is supposed to be clear of us by about noon tomorrow," said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. "The weather outlook for the weekend is favorable and we are optimistic that if the forecast holds, we're going to be able to run Saturday and Sunday. As we've said, safety is our number one priority and well continue to make all decisions based upon that."
The problem has been the ineffectual draining of the water from the artificial racing surface. Santa Anita's main track is the synthetic Pro-Ride system. Reports state that the racetrack will change the track after the current race meet.
"Even though it's been raining hard at times over the past four days, we've seen a lot of improvement in the main track and the way it's draining," Charles said. "However, we're told we could get two or more inches of rain today, so we felt it would be in everyone's best interest to make the decision to cancel Friday's program this morning."

[Old-Timer]

Hey Reno,
I've had my days changed to Mon/Tues off and that really sucks for the Ponies.
Use to Make quite a few trips to Santa Anita on Wednesday's and of course my weeks vacation at Del-Mar each year.
Where you from Reno? Not many people here play or like the horse's wish there were more. Great Sport