Officials to Discuss Polytrack Surface at Turfway

Keeneland and Turfway Park plan a joint press conference April 27 at Keeneland to discuss installation of the Polytrack surface, now used on Keeneland's five-eighths-mile training track, at Turfway.

Details weren't available, though officials have floated the idea of installing the synthetic material on the one-mile track at the Northern Kentucky track. Turfway president Bob Elliston couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

Officials expected to attend the 9:30 a.m. EDT press conference at Barn 43 at Keeneland are Elliston; Nick Nicholson, president of Keeneland; and Martin Collins, creator of Polytrack and president of Martin Collins International.

Keeneland is a one-third owner of Turfway, along with Harrah's Entertainment and GTECH Corp.

Polytrack was installed last year at Keeneland. Officials said they wanted to observe its performance during the winter before making a decision on whether the Turfway surface should be replaced.

Turfway, which races from early December through early April, loses racing programs due to weather-related track conditions in the winter. The surface is subject to a freeze/thaw process when temperatures fluctuate.