Much discussion on synthetic track
HORSE RACING
New surface is reviewed and debated during a lengthy meeting at Santa Anita.
Near the end of an all-day meeting at Santa Anita in which nearly 50 of the biggest names in horse racing had been heard, Eual Wyatt, Hollywood Park's general manager and one of six members on the ninth and last panel of the day, grabbed the microphone.
"We've heard some magnificent views here today," he said. "Few things in the world are perfect, and synthetic tracks are not perfect. But they are better than what we had."
Wyatt said he initially wasn't in favor of the California Horse Racing Board mandating that the state's major thoroughbred tracks convert to synthetic surfaces by the end of 2007. But at Wednesday's meeting, he said the CHRB mandate couldn't "have been any more timely."
Looking ahead, Wyatt said the tracks should work together and turn to science to make needed improvements.
Many opinions were expressed during the special meeting called by the CHRB to discuss synthetic tracks, but maybe Wyatt's best summed up the tone of the day.
Sure, there were some dissenting voices. Trainers Bob Baffert, Ed Moger and John Shirreffs were among the most outspoken critics.
Baffert said he knew California's dirt tracks were in need of resurfacing and that he initially "bought into synthetic tracks 100%." But now, he said, "It's an experiment, a work in progress," adding, "Synthetic track manufacturers sold us a bill of goods."
He also said, "We're in a crisis or we wouldn't be having this meeting."
Baffert recently lost four promising horses -- Massive Drama, Maimonides, Vindication and J Be K -- because a major client, owner Ahmed Zayat, moved them to Eastern tracks with dirt surfaces. Zayat also shipped 27 horses east from Del Mar this summer over frustrations with the synthetic track there.
"You're not looking past your barn," trainer Ron Ellis told Baffert in response to his criticism.
And when Baffert and other critics complained about synthetic tracks causing horses to bleed, Ellis said, "Where does it say synthetic tracks cause bleeding?"
Shirreffs complained that synthetic tracks hindered performances and other critics cited a high injury rate.
But there were those who disagreed. In addition to Ellis, David Hofmans, Richard Mandella, John Sadler and Doug O'Neill were among the trainers on a large panel who voiced positive reviews.
Perhaps the best endorsement came from trainer Barry Abrams, a non-panel member who came to the podium and said, "Two years from now we will be rejoicing over what the CHRB has done for racing."
