Much discussion on synthetic track

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.”

First up at the long meeting was a panel of jockeys that included Garrett Gomez, David Flores and retired jockey Gary Stevens. There were no naysayers among the jockeys. All said the synthetic surfaces were easier on them and the horses. However, Gomez pointed out some recent problems with the ingredients in the materials of Santa Anita’s track separating and causing inconsistencies.

Of concerns that the synthetic materials might be unhealthy to breathe, CHRB Chairman Richard Shapiro said toxicology studies have shown they are safe.

Jean Pierre Bardet, chairman of USC’s civil and environmental engineering department who has become very involved in the issue, explained to panelists and a crowd of about 150 how synthetic tracks are made. They are 80% sand, 10-15% fibers and rubber and 5-10% a polymer binder or wax.

The meeting included debates over whether a polymer binder or wax is best without a definitive conclusion reached.

Greg Ferraro of UC Davis, on a panel of veterinarians, recommended the formation of a national research commission to supply data on synthetic tracks.

Jeff Blea, a Southern California veterinarian, pointed out that it has been a long tradition for trainers, jockeys, horsemen, horseplayers and others in racing to place blame on tracks for a variety of ills.

“I heard on the radio this morning that Hillary Clinton blamed her loss in Wisconsin on the track there,” he quipped.

larry.stewart@latimes.com