Miller gallops horses during Polytrack test at Del Mar

When the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club meet opened yesterday afternoon, the fans experienced the racetrack’s new Polytrack surface. San Luis Downs Thoroughbred Training Center trainer Peter Miller had already experienced the Polytrack at Del Mar.

Miller galloped four of his horses during the April 23 testing of the new Polytrack surface. He was one of three trainers to test the track that day.

“I liked it a lot. I think it was a big improvement over the old surface,” Miller said.

Nine horses - four trained by Miller and five trained by Doug O’Neill - galloped on the Polytrack during the morning, and three horses trained by Neil Drysdale were part of an afternoon session at the track.

“I think the track’s going to be a big improvement over previous years,” Miller said. “Should have healthier, sounder horses.”

Mac McBride, the Director of Media for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, felt that all three trainers liked the new surface. “They thought it was good,” McBride said. “We were very pleased with that initial reaction.”

Polytrack was created by Martin Collins Enterprises, which develops synthetic racing surfaces for racecourses and thoroughbred training facilities. The first Polytrack facility was installed at Richard Hannon’s gallop in Wiltshire, and in 2001 England’s Lingfield Park Racecourse opened with a new Polytrack surface.

Polytrack consists of multiple layers. The top layer, which is approximately seven inches deep, consists of polypropylene fibers, rubber, and silica sand.

The polypropylene fibers are cut at various lengths, mixed with the other materials, and coated with wax. That allows the surface to remain in place even after heavy use or significant climate changes. The seven inches of the top layer are harrowed loosely on the top and compacted on the bottom. Scientists in Europe have determined that the ingredients in the Polytrack surface are safe for horses if ingested.

Underneath the Polytrack layer is a base consisting of eight inches of gravel and two inches of asphalt. The drainage portion uses longitudinal drains and cross drains, so water flows vertically through the materials through the drainage system which carries water away from the track as opposed to the horizontal draining of conventional dirt tracks which can compromise the track’s condition.

“The surface is going to basically be kinder and gentler to the horses,” McBride said. “It is going to make racing and training safer at this track both for the horses and the riders.”

Polytrack made its American debut on the 5/8-mile training track at Keeneland, Kentucky, in 2004. Keeneland Association is an ownership partner in Turfway Park, which is located in Florence, Kentucky, and on September 7, 2005, the first race on Polytrack in North America took place at Turfway Park. In 2006 the Woodbine track in Toronto was converted to Polytrack, and Arlington Park in Illinois began its Polytrack era in May 2007. When Del Mar opened yesterday, it became the fifth North American track to use Polytrack.

“This is a good thing. It’s a good thing for racing; it’s a good thing for safety,” McBride said.

The old Del Mar dirt track, with its proximity to the ocean, may or may not have been more dangerous than other tracks. The Del Mar meet is considered more of a social meet than the meets at the other two Southern California tracks and at the Los Angeles County Fair, and many in the industry feel that some owners pressure trainers to have horses race at Del Mar before the horses are actually ready.

While speculation of the cause creates different opinions, the grim statistic was that 18 horses were lost during the Del Mar meet in 2006, including three on the turf track. Ten of the destroyed horses broke down during workouts and eight were injured during races. “We had to give our absolute best effort to try to do something, and I think we’ve done that,” McBride said.

The new surface won’t protect horses against overeager owners, but it could prevent small injuries caused by an uneven surface from turning into major injuries. “It doesn’t allow for the small niggling injuries that a horse will get, especially in training,” McBride said.

The Polytrack surface prevents the dirt from forming a crown. Wetting down the surface can be performed without fear of creating too deep a surface or too hard a surface.

The California Horse Racing Board ordered all major tracks in the state to have a form of engineered surface in place by the end of 2007. Del Mar management had favored a synthetic surface before Turfway Park had its first race on Polytrack, but the desire not to rush the process retained the dirt track for 2006. The Del Mar resurfacing required approval of the California Coastal Commission, which occurred in December 2006, and the installation of the Polytrack began in January 2007. The installation process required approximately three months.

Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park have different heat extremes than Del Mar and also run during rainier months. Hollywood Park (which is located in Inglewood) felt that the Cushion Track surface was the most suitable for its climactic conditions while Santa Anita (which is in Arcadia) will decide on an appropriate surface.

The Cushion Track was used for the Hollywood Park meet which precedes the Del Mar races. That means that the minor injuries caused by uneven dirt surfaces won’t affect the horses who will race at Del Mar after the end of the Hollywood Park meet. “We think we’re going to see fitter, sounder horses coming down here,” McBride said.

Since the reduction in minor injuries will lead to fewer scratches, McBride expects larger fields at Del Mar. “You have more competitive racing,” he said. “People like it better.”

That increased competitiveness will lead to bigger wagering handles, which in turn will lead to larger purses for races. “It just flows in such a positive way,” McBride said.

Because the cushioning provides secure footing, leg and back injuries are expected to be reduced. That will likely increase field sizes as trainers will be more willing to enter various races, and if horses can run more frequently due to the reduced surface stress the field size will also likely increase.

“The fields fatten up, and when the fields fatten up all good things happen,” McBride said.

The surface also reduces heat in a horse’s ankles and legs.

“I think it will help all horses, especially horses with soundness issues,” Miller said.

The lack of surface surprises will also increase competitiveness if experience from other tracks carries over to Del Mar. “The races tend to be closer and tighter together,” McBride said. “The horses tend to finish very well.”

The consistent surface may also help a horse’s mind. “The horse winds up having confidence in a surface like this,” McBride said.

The cushioning means that horses may have to exert greater effort. “Some horses adapt very well to it; some don’t,” McBride said.

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will have separate track records for the old dirt track and the new Polytrack surface.

No tax money was used in the $8 million installation of the new surface. That expense will be gradually offset in water and maintenance savings, since Polytrack requires less watering and harrowing than a dirt surface. “We don’t feel we’re going to need anywhere near the amount of water,” McBride said. “The surface does not demand that much maintenance.”

Fluffing will occur for appearance purposes only, but the track will not need to be raked or tractored after each race. The exact savings is currently unknown. “We’ll know after this Summer,” McBride said.

Manure will break down the surface and dry out the wax coating over a period of time, so removal of manure from the surface is recommended. If the surface is properly maintained it will require refreshment every five to seven years, although the range will vary depending on frequency of use and exposure to the elements.

Because the fine sand particles required the silica content, California sand was not suitable and sand particles mined in Illinois were shipped two railcars at a time, with each railcar carrying 100 tons, from Illinois to Corona before being transported by truck from Corona to Del Mar. Sixteen thousand tons of Polytrack were required to cover the track, and 275 tons of Polytrack material can be manufactured in one day.

During the San Diego County Fair, as well as during other absences from horse racing, a temporary heavy-duty flooring called Hexadeck protects the track, which during the dirt era was used as a parking lot during the fair. The stage for fair concerts was placed over the Hexadeck, but other use of the track wasn’t allowed for the 2007 fair. “We don’t want to contaminate it with oil or engine fluid,” McBride said.

The 2007 Del Mar Thoroughbred Club meet will run every day except Tuesday through September 5. That will allow for 43 days of Polytrack races. “We were very encouraged by the reception by the horsemen,” McBride said. “We think it’s going to be good.”

That is also Miller’s thinking. “Just looking forward to the Del Mar meet,” Miller said.