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Some Real Dirt

One thing we do know is the synthetic surface installed at Santa Anita has been a mess from the start and has seen more facelifts than Joan Rivers.

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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.

Tapeta's Meydan Surface May Be in Use Soon

All the Tapeta material has been laid for the main racing surface at the new Meydan racecourse, which could be ready for use soon, said Michael Dickinson, who created and now markets the synthetic racing surface.

Training Resumes at Golden Gate Fields

Horses returned to the Golden Gate Fields main track for gallops on the morning of Jan. 7 after the synthetic course was closed to training for two days for refurbishment.

Proud Spell Could Be Breeders' Cup Bound

Not long after Curlin's majority owner Jess Jackson indicated the reigning Horse of the Year might show up at Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup after all, trainer Larry Jones stated that Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Proud Spell could be headed to California too. Jones, who previously said Proud Spell was unlikely for the Breeders' Cup, made the comments during a national media teleconference Sept. 16.

Synthetic Surfaces Discussed in New York

A cross-section of the racing industry addressed the New York Task Force on Retired Race Horses on the subject of synthetic surfaces at a one-day forum held July 29 at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Co. pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Tapeta Chosen for Dubai Training Track

The Dubai Racing Club announced that a Tapeta synthetic surface has been selected for the new training track at Meydan.

Track Superintendents Talk Synthetics

With the racing industry being scrutinized in the area of track safety, the seventh annual Track Superintendent Field Day conference at Keeneland June 2-3 seemed an especially timely opportunity for questions to be answered by synthetic-track maintenance professionals from around the country.

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.

Commentary: When Is Diligence Due?

You can bet there are those pushing for a return to a dirt surface at Santa Anita

Synthetic Surfaces: Special Report

Perhaps no other sport is as bound to tradition as racing Thoroughbreds. From the sheer length of its history, to the grand old venues in which it takes place, to the top-hatted and red-suited bugler calling the horses to post, racing loves its time-honored habits.

Commentary: Step Lively

By - Dan Liebman - In 2007, at least one Thoroughbred flat race was run at 129 different racetracks in North America (another 24 ran steeplechase races only). Of those racetracks, nine now have a synthetic track surface.

Tapeta Track Debuts at Golden Gate

Northern California horsemen are hoping that Tapeta Footings, unveiled Nov. 7 at Golden Gate Fields, will put the bounce back in their racing circuit.

Tapeta Surface Focus of Presque Isle Meet

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has embarked on a study to determine whether synthetic-surface racing has an impact on horses' bronchial systems.

Presque Isle Downs Puts Tapeta Footings to the Test

Presque Isle Downs, returning racing to the Erie area for the first time in 20 years, is the first American racetrack to use Tapeta Footings' unique artificial material for its track surface.

New Pennsylvania Track to Install Tapeta Surface

Presque Isle Downs, the new Erie, Pa., track owned by MTR Gaming Group, will install Michael Dickinson's synthetic Tapeta racing surface before its inaugural Thoroughbred meet begins Sept. 1.

Folk Likely for Kentucky Oaks; Day Pass Still a Question Mark for Derby

Depending upon on how she performs against males Saturday in the $2 million UAE Derby (UAE-II) at Nal al Sheba, Godolphin Racing's Folk will likely make her next start in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs May 4, according to Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

Santa Anita Committed to Installing Synthetic Surface in 2007

Following reports that Santa Anita might request more time before installing a synthetic main-track surface, Santa Anita President Ron Charles announced Feb. 21 that Magna Entertainment Corp. is committed to installing such a surface this year.

Polytrack Apparently Chosen for Arlington Surface

Churchill Downs Inc.'s Arlington Park apparently is poised to announce that it has chosen Polytrack for its new synthetic surface, preparations for which already are well underway at the Chicago-area track.

Discreet Cat Preparing for World Cup Program

Godolphin Stable's Discreet Cat has been nominated to three races on the March 31 Dubai World Cup program, including the Dubai Golden Shaheen UAE-I), Godolphin Mile (UAE-I), and the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

NJSEA Officials Exploring Dual-Breed Synthetic Surface

Members of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority racing team, as well as two trainers, visited Tapeta Farm in Maryland recently to review a synthetic racing surface with the inventor of Tapeta, trainer Michael Dickinson.

Fair Hill to Install Tapeta Surface on Training Track

The Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., plans to install the Tapeta all weather surface on its training track during the summer of 2006,it announced May 31.

Group Studies Synthetic Racing Surfaces for New York

A fledgling group of owners and breeders in New York has launched a new effort to study a variety of issues affecting the safety of Thoroughbred horses, including whether some of the state's racetracks should install alternative racing surfaces.

A Huevo Euthanized After W. Va. Classic

A Huevo, a 9-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hopkins and winner of the 2003 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) was euthanized after being pulled up soon after the start and vanned off following the West Virginia Breeders' Classic Stakes the evening of Oct. 8. The son of Cool Joe had been the 1-2 favorite in the nine-furlong race at Charles Town Races and Slots.

Derby Profile: Tapit Has First Breeze at Palm Meadows

Laurel Futurity (gr. III) winner Tapit had his first work since arriving at Palm Meadows training center, breezing an easy 7 furlongs in 1:30 3/5 Tuesday. Trainer Michael Dickinson still has not finalized plans as to when Tapit will make his 3-year-old debut.

Dickinson and Voss Settle Track Surface Lawsuit

A $4 million lawsuit involving track surface espionage between two Maryland trainers was settled Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun.