Santa Anita: hell in a handbasket

halfbridled · Postby **halfbridled** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:00 pm

http://www.drf.com/news/article/92435.html

A panel of 10 trainers debated the synthetic track issue for an hour, with opinions fairly split between supporters and detractors.

Trainers Bob Baffert, Julio Canani, Ed Moger Jr., and John Shirreffs criticized the surfaces, citing a high injury rate, and inconsistencies between morning training and afternoon racing.

"We're in a crisis or we wouldn't be having this meeting," Baffert said.

Shirreffs said that he has experienced numerous hind-end injuries in his stable since the first synthetic track was installed in California at Hollywood Park in September 2006.

"I disagree with synthetic tracks," Shirreffs said. "It's hard to go to the barn and be optimistic."

Moger, the president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, said his barns in Northern California and Southern California have a worrisome rate of injuries.

"I cannot say that synthetics are safer," he said. "I can't say it's worse and I can't say it's a better track. I'm trying to keep an open mind. As far as being safe for sure, I can't say that."

During the veterinarians' panel, Jeff Blea, a private vet in Southern California, provided evidence that the number of shin X-rays conducted by his five-person practice had dropped since synthetic tracks were installed, but that injuries related to the pelvis and feet had increased.

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:16 pm

What a disgrace

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:51 pm

RatherRapid and Fog - there's only one answer. Dig the crap up!

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:25 pm

lol! let's hear from Mandella before we go overboard.

halfbridled · Postby **halfbridled** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:44 pm

I had to share a gem of a quote:

Michael Dickinson, who designed the Tapeta Footings surface installed at Golden Gate Fields, said horse fatalities were greatly lower after the maintenance of that track was altered in early January - from 8.9 fatalities per 2,000 starts from early November to Jan. 6, to one in the 1,290 starts from Jan. 7 to Feb. 3.

He said that in Great Britain, the figure is one fatality per 2,000 starts on synthetic tracks.

"That's got to be our goal, if we can get our act together," he said.

Woah..these people paid you how much for your shredded rubber and wax concoction and you say WHAT? What is with this WE business? :shock:

I'm with Roke. Dig it up and bury the idiots at the quarter pole under some good ol fashioned DIRT.

Nite all!

larrygene · Postby **larrygene** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:37 am

The Bloodhorse is reporting yesterday that SA is going to dig up the surface and replace it with another synthetic, they did not name which one. Stated they were leaving the drainage system but only replacing the top surface. What a mess!!!!!!!!!! :roll:

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:16 am

Sounds like something California would do. Whatever is the worst choice for the industry they seem to do. Some sharpies out there

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:32 am

They decide to have a meeting to talk about a track that is garbage. Why not talk about it before you install it, go over all the pros and cons prior to spending 10 million?

The whole point is A)Less injuries B)Less maintenance C) All weather. Thats what these tracks were sold as. California has had MORE injuries, They cant spend enough money or time to keep the tracks honest, or even, and they have been rained out 11 times. Why hasnt anyone stepped up and said..... We have made a terrible mistake and need to test more prior to installing these synthetics. These surfaces are being sold as a cureall by the people who created them. Nobody but the guys who are making millions on these surfaces are praising them, does that send up a redflag at all?

The owners and trainers dont deserve this. The industry doesnt need this, some heads need to roll, and some correct decisions need to be made quickly.

You can see the propoly guys already looking for another surface to leach onto. Mandella saying the pro-ride guy has done a miracle. Why is running a horserace such a miracle?

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:45 am

Fog - from start to finish, this has been a national disaster. Richard Shapiro should be shot at dawn for this mess that he's responsible for. I think they'd better figure this out before the Breeders Cup, don't you? Morons!!!

Once I read that Ron Ellis likes the surface, I was convinced that the entire track needs to be dug up. If a village idiot like Ron Ellis has something positive to say about the cushion, it's got to go!

Are these geniuses going to plant another untested surface? Why can't they simply get an overrule of the mandate and plant a dirt track that's deep and safe? The whole problem was started by the dirt surface being too hard - so why didn't they just add a deeper base to it? Idiots!!!

Either that, or a lot of $$$ was sliced up behind closed doors. There's no other explanation for the stupidity behind this mess. Was anyone that races at Santa Anita consulted before the decision to plant the cushion was made? No - and why do you suppose that is? Maybe some trainers would have thought to ask about the current problems before they developed, but who knows - instead, everyone was sold a bill of goods and that was that.

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 12:29 pm

ratherrapid wrote:lol! let's hear from Mandella before we go overboard.

He's so politically correct, that even after his good colt is injured and of the TC trail, I'd be willing to bet he says very little about the surface.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:12 pm

Tuc ur views are well known, though if today's Blood Horse is believed you'd be in a small minority of: Baffert, Shireffs, you, fogg, and Rok. and since we all know in the next life Rok will be warm, i'd recommend as his final punishment he be encased in the stuff with a few SC leavings for good measure. maybe give him 5 minutes per yr in dirt, but only if he spends the the whole year recanting his opinions.

the danger here is that the tracks will use the controversy to quit trying to improve their surfaces, and install the cheapest they can get away with. unknown what my opinion might be if i galloped over it, but short of that i have to believe my eyes. this stuff looks more forgiving than dirt. the inj. stats will be out soon. might we suspend judgment till then?

Tiz · Postby **Tiz** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:37 pm

Does the track go from 10 million dollars for a synthetic, to doing less or nothing to maintain a traditional surface? Those aren't the only choices, now or in the past.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:52 pm

might be the nature of the beast to spend as little $$$ as possible on the track. see GGF. i known nothing about this subject except what i read and what i see. i'd want though to praise them for making the effort even it it's mandated instead of bad mouthing it with every bobble. what if, e.g. they were able through experimentation to come up with a totally safe, affordable artificial surface?

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:19 pm

Hey Rather - I'll save ya a seat by the fire, OK? LOL!

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:49 am

Meanwhile....another bag 'em and tag 'em at Santa Anita today.

RIP Characteristic. Don't worry....the CHRB will come up with some stat that makes your death totally meaningless.
http://equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/SA022108USA5.pdf