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BloodHorse.com Articles for "Synthetic Surfaces"

Equine Fatal Injury Rate is Steady in 2012

Equine Fatal Injury Rate is Steady in 2012

According to a March 8 Jockey Club release based on information collected in the Equine Injury Database, fatal breakdowns in North American Thoroughbred races stayed about the same in 2012 at just under two per 1,000 starts.

 Friday, March 08, 2013
Data: Slight Drop in Fatal Racehorse Injuries

Data: Slight Drop in Fatal Racehorse Injuries

Synthetic surfaces still have the lowest number of catastrophic breakdowns per 1,000 starts, but overall fatalities for all surfaces didn't change much from 2009 to 2011, according to Equine Injury Database statistics.

 Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Proactive Approach Sought on Racing Surfaces

Proactive Approach Sought on Racing Surfaces

Regular testing and proactive investment are keys to improving the safety records of racetracks, a co-founder of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory said Oct. 16 at the fourth Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.

 Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Business Strong Early in Keeneland Meet

Business Strong Early in Keeneland Meet

Keeneland reported business gains for the first three days of its spring meet, including record attendance for a three-day period.

 Thursday, April 14, 2011
After Few Bumps, Smooth Ride for TP Polytrack

After Few Bumps, Smooth Ride for TP Polytrack

Officials at Turfway Park, which at the end of 2010 completed five full years of racing on Polytrack, said the results have been largely positive, and there is no thought of returning to dirt.

 Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Santa Anita 'Feeling Way' With New Surface

Santa Anita 'Feeling Way' With New Surface

There has been one racing fatality following a breakdown in the first eight days of competition on Santa Anita Park's new dirt track, according to the California Horse Racing Board equine medical director.

 Friday, January 07, 2011

Stats Look at Fatal Injuries Over Two Years

An analysis of statistics compiled by the Equine Injury Database for a two-year period shows a slight decline in the number of catastrophic injuries, officials said Dec. 15.

 Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Terms Given for Santa Anita Surface Waiver

The California Horse Racing Board said Sept. 7 it is working with Santa Anita Park management and horsemen on a waiver for the MI Developments-owned racetrack to replace its synthetic surface with dirt.

 Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Officials: Track Consistency, Maintenance Key

Officials: Track Consistency, Maintenance Key

As people rush to takes sides in the great dirt-versus-synthetic surface debate, Dr. Mick Peterson and Santa Anita Park track superintendent Richard Tedesco suggested consistency and maintenance trump type of surface.

 Monday, March 15, 2010

Arthur: Calif. Equine Deaths Declined in '09

Equine fatalities in California held steady during the 2008-09 fiscal year, although Thoroughbred deaths at the state's racetracks decreased by more than 10% over the preceding year, data shows.

 Thursday, February 25, 2010
Meydan Trials Held in Advance of Carnival

Meydan Trials Held in Advance of Carnival

Trials held at the new Meydan racing facility in advance of the Dubai Racing Carnival received a thumbs-up, according to the Dubai Racing Club.

 Friday, January 22, 2010
New Surface for Santa Anita Later This Year

New Surface for Santa Anita Later This Year

Santa Anita Park officials have indicated the California track's main racing surface will be replaced, but it remains to be seen if the new surface will be synthetic or dirt.

 Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Fatal Bullet Takes Aim as Keeneland Opens

Fatal Bullet Takes Aim as Keeneland Opens

Bear Stables' Fatal Bullet, second in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), returns to a synthetic surface in the grade III Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland for its Oct. 9 opening-day program.

 Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Jackson Reaffirms No Breeders' Cup for Rachel

Jackson Reaffirms No Breeders' Cup for Rachel

The Breeders' Cup board of directors Sept. 11 said the organization will increase the purse of the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) by $1 million if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta start in the 1 1/4-mile event Nov. 7 at Santa Anita Park.

 Friday, September 11, 2009
John Nerud: A Racing Legend Part 1 (Video)

John Nerud: A Racing Legend Part 1 (Video)

Part I: Hall of Famer John Nerud talks about the high-profile trainers whose careers he helped start, the need for a national commissioner for Thoroughbred racing, changes with the Breeders' Cup World Championship, the future of synthetic surfaces, and the tie between racing and slot machines.

 Friday, August 14, 2009
Funding for New Racetrack Surfaces Study

Funding for New Racetrack Surfaces Study

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced May 28 that it is providing $50,000 to fund an innovative research project designed to create a "state-of-the-art" method of assessing racetrack surfaces.

 Thursday, May 28, 2009

Synthetic Surfaces vs. Dirt and Turf

"Injuries and fatalities are a major problem in the (Thoroughbred) racing industry," said Jacob Setterbo, BS, a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, during the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention (held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif.). "There are about two racing-related equine deaths per day due primarily to musculoskeletal injury (in the U.S. and Canada)."

 Monday, March 23, 2009
Turfway Injuries Down in January

Turfway Injuries Down in January

A month after Turfway Park experienced eight catastrophic breakdowns during its 21-day holiday meet, state veterinarian Dr. Bryce Peckham and Turfway president Bob Elliston were on hand at a Feb. 10 Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting in Lexington to present commissioners a much more positive report.

 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Oaklawn Opens With Focus on 3-Year-Olds

Oaklawn Opens With Focus on 3-Year-Olds

Larry Jones might have one of the top Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hopefuls this year, and he plans to bring the horse to Arkansas.

 Friday, January 16, 2009

National HBPA Sets Convention Agenda

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will discuss aftercare for racehorses, equine medication and drug-testing thresholds, and synthetic surfaces during its winter convention Jan. 30-Feb. 2 in Hollywood, Fla.

 Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Surface Question: Will More Euros Ship?

Surface Question: Will More Euros Ship?

Though champion Curlin may not have handled the synthetic racing surface as well as some of his European rivals did in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), Santa Anita Park's Pro-Ride racing surface performed safely during the two-day World Championships Oct. 24-25.

 Monday, October 27, 2008
Breeders' Cup  Handle Up 5.5%

Breeders' Cup Handle Up 5.5%

Handle for the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships was up 5.5% over last year's event, according to preliminary data released Oct. 26.

 Sunday, October 26, 2008
Bailey on Synthetics: Euros Even Up Now

Bailey on Synthetics: Euros Even Up Now

Jerry Bailey said that any disadvantage suffered in the past by European horses on the dirt has been taken away with the introduction of a new synthetic surface for this year's Breeders' Cup.

 Friday, September 26, 2008
Keeneland Offers 'PolyCapping' Database

Keeneland Offers 'PolyCapping' Database

Keeneland, whose fall meet begins Oct. 3, is launching a "PolyCapping" online database to provide more information for handicappers.

 Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Quarter Horses to Make Polytrack Debut

The first Quarter Horse race at Turfway Park since 1972, and the first held anywhere on Polytrack, will be held the evening of Sept. 12 at the Northern Kentucky track.

 Friday, September 12, 2008

Penn National to Suspend Racing Sept.20

Live racing and training at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will be suspended following the Sept. 20 racing program for a resurfacing project of the entire racetrack cushion. The unexpected shutdown of the Pennsylvania racetrack is believed to be due to track conditions that have resulted in a high number of recent catastrophic breakdowns, based on information from horsemen.

 Friday, August 29, 2008
Evening Attire Hopes It's Off the Turf

Evening Attire Hopes It's Off the Turf

Evening Attire, the 10-year-old gelding who qualified for a starting berth to the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Marathon by winning the Greenwood Cup by 8 1/4 lengths at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack in July, will be entered as a main-track-only participant for the $80,000 John's Call Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 17.

 Thursday, August 14, 2008

Quarters to Race on Turfway's Polytrack

Quarter Horses will race on the synthetic Polytrack for the first time Sept. 12 when Turfway Park hosts the $25,000 John Deere Turfway Park Sprint Stakes. The race will be part of the Friday night program of Thoroughbred racing during Turfway's late summer/early fall meet.

 Friday, August 08, 2008

Forum: 'Other Side' of Equine Welfare

A July 18 forum on equine welfare and safety gave participants a chance to offer a perspective not provided during a June congressional hearing at which the horseracing industry was slammed, horsemen said.

 Monday, July 21, 2008
Synthetic Surfaces on Agenda in New York

Synthetic Surfaces on Agenda in New York

New York state officials will be holding a session with racing industry officials to consider the installation of synthetic surfaces at the state's racetracks.

 Monday, July 07, 2008
Santa Anita to Install Pro-Ride Surface

Santa Anita to Install Pro-Ride Surface

Santa Anita Park announced June 23 that its main track will undergo a complete overhaul beginning July 14, and will be reconstituted with a mixture of Pro-Ride synthetic material.

 Monday, June 23, 2008

Daily Track-Surface Reports Called Key

After track superintendents from across the nation discussed various methods for maintaining their individual surfaces at the Track Superintendent Field Day at Keeneland June 3, Dr. Mick Peterson offered ways to apply what was learned and make the necessary changes to lessen on-track injuries.

 Wednesday, June 04, 2008

McIlwraith, Peterson Honored With Award

The second Elastikon Equine Research Award, funded through a grant made by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, has been awarded to Dr. Wayne McIlwraith of Colorado State University and Dr. Mick Peterson of the University of Maine for their research designed to enhance the safety of racetracks for horses.

 Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Base of SA Surface Could Be Replaced

Base of SA Surface Could Be Replaced

Replacement of the asphalt base is likely the next step in the ongoing efforts to improve Santa Anita Park's synthetic surface.

 Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Test Calls for Flooding of SA Surface

Test Calls for Flooding of SA Surface

A two-day flooding of Santa Anita Park's synthetic surface is one of the final tests management plans before making a decision on the future of the main-track surface. Track president Ron Charles said the surface will be flooded following training hours May 28.

 Friday, May 23, 2008
Pacers Take to Polytrack for Road Test

Pacers Take to Polytrack for Road Test

Two exhibition races for Standardbred pacers were held at Keeneland the afternoon of May 21 to give the principals in a racetrack under construction in Alberta, Canada, an idea as to whether a synthetic surface can be used for both breeds.

 Wednesday, May 21, 2008
MEC: No Immediate Plan to Sell MD Tracks

MEC: No Immediate Plan to Sell MD Tracks

A Magna Entertainment Corp. executive said the company has no plans to sell either of its Maryland racetracks but indicated the results of a statewide November referendum on slot machines could play a role in any decision.

 Wednesday, May 21, 2008

NY Plans Summit on Synthetic Surfaces

The Task Force on Retired Racehorses, a state-appointed committee, has planned a summit in Saratoga Springss, N.Y., July 29 to explore the potential for the installation of synthetic surfaces at the state's racetracks.

 Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Presque Isle Ready for Second Season

Live Thoroughbred racing will return to the Erie, Pa., area May 9 when Presque Isle Downs commences its 2008 meet. Presque Isle's 100-day season will extend through Sept. 27, with a daily post time of 5:30 p.m. EDT.

 Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Review: Racetrack Fatality Ratio Changes

Review: Racetrack Fatality Ratio Changes

The number of catastrophic injuries on dirt tracks has gone up while the corresponding number on synthetic surfaces has gone down, according to a revision of a report first given at the March 17 Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit.

 Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tapeta Gets Production Facility Permit

Tapeta Gets Production Facility Permit

Delaware environmental secretary John Hughes has issued a Coastal Zone Act permit to Michael Dickinson's synthetic-surface company Tapeta Footings to operate a new manufacturing facility in New Castle, Del.

 Friday, April 04, 2008

Caution Urged on Steroid Regulation

An authority on drug testing who has worked with the United States Olympic Committee and is now advising the horse racing industry has urged caution on efforts to regulate anabolic steroids.

 Monday, March 17, 2008
Williamson Named Top California Owner

Williamson Named Top California Owner

Warren Williamson was voted owner of the year, and his racemare Nashoba's Key was chosen horse of the year, in the Thoroughbred of California's annual owner awards selection.

 Monday, March 10, 2008
Santa Anita to Replace Surface

Santa Anita to Replace Surface

Experts from all avenues of the racing industry presented statistics and opinions on synthetic surfaces and Santa Anita track president Ron Charles said the track will replace its Cushion Track as a six-hour special meeting called by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) concluded Feb. 20.

 Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Market Said to Be Big Factor for BC

Market Said to Be Big Factor for BC

The Los Angeles media market and its attractiveness to sponsors played a key role in the decision by Breeders' Cup to tab Santa Anita Park as a host site for two consecutive years, Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli said.

 Friday, February 08, 2008
Santa Anita Tabbed as 2009 BC Host

Santa Anita Tabbed as 2009 BC Host

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held in 2009 at Santa Anita Park, the California racetrack that will serve as this year's host. It marks the first time the event will be held at the same host site two years in a row.

 Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tapeta Gives Golden Gate a Boost

Tapeta Gives Golden Gate a Boost

Golden Gate Fields experienced an increase in all-sources handle and a decrease in catastrophic injuries during its first meet with a synthetic surface.

 Thursday, February 07, 2008
In Summation Sharp in Palos Verdes

In Summation Sharp in Palos Verdes

Waterford Stable's In Summation again showed his affinity for synthetic surfaces with a game and blazing victory in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (gr. II) for 4-year-olds and up at Santa Anita Park Jan. 21.

 Monday, January 21, 2008
Additive May Aid Santa Anita Track

Additive May Aid Santa Anita Track

Synthetic material that includes a liquid binder will be added to Santa Anita Park's main surface in an effort to improve drainage, the Southern California racetrack announced Jan. 15.

 Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Horses Set to Work at Santa Anita

Horses Set to Work at Santa Anita

Horses are expected to return to training on the main Santa Anita Park racing surface Dec. 22 following a renovation of the Cushion Track to fix a drainage problem.

 Friday, December 21, 2007
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