Poly vs Cushion
 

When a track decides, or in the case in California been forced to, install a synthetic racing surface, they are faced with the decision to install polytrack, cushion track, or tapeta. What is the difference between all three?

i don't know whether the track susbstance is the factor, or the track super, or the weather, or some combo of the above. they all seem to be made of essentially the same things--silica sand, rubber, wax. whether the mix is different, i don't know. but the maintenance may be the key, moreso than the ingredients. i'd say the difference would be like comparing charmin, angel soft, and quilted northern. only real difference is who gets your money.

The $$ Amount in the bribe envelope?

Accoding to Dickinson, "Tapeta was made for an American climate - as opposed to polytrack, which was made for a European climate."

From what I've seen.....polytrack is complete garbage, cushion track is better than polytrack...and Tapeta might be better than cushion track.

Nothing they make will ever replace the greatness that is the natural dirt surface.

How many times do i have to say that is the track's fault..... not the surface. If the tracks over there were to maitain it properly, it would be a good surface.

Martin Collins sells it as a "maintenance free" surface, when it is anything but that, but the US tracks seem to have taken his word for it.

To look at, Poly and Cushion are quite different. Cushion looks more shredded with bigger pieces while Poly is like a gummy gooey sand. (They had samples of Poly to feel at Del Mar, ick). It is easy to see that horses might not "sink" into Cushion they way they are said to do into dry warm Poly.

How exactly do you know how the tracks are being maintained here?

I suspect Tapeta will be the best of the three; for one thing, like Drugs said, Poly is total crap and it wouldn't take much to be better than that. As for Cushion, I remember last year a number of trainers complained about it.

Lets pray that Tapeta isn't a surface where all the riders strangle their mounts until the quarter pole.

I agree 100%. Natural dirt is the best surface.

I have seen how they are harrowed, and the amount of water put on some of them.

You do not need to be a brain surgeon to realise that the tracks with Poly in America are doing plenty of things wrong.

It's starting to make me laugh that they obviously have no clue as to how to maitain a synthetic surface, and how the racing fans seem to be very short sighted about the whole thing.

You have the ability to watch the harrows and water trucks from Europe?

I don't want to get into this debate as clearly I don't know enough but there was a breakdown in the first race at Presque Isle Downs.....

Rest in peace, Cantrel.

That was fast.

Cantrel...Trained by Scott Lake. R.I.P

I laughed.

The polytrack at Del Mar has 0 degree banking in the turns and Hollywoods Cushion track has 6 degree banking. This is something that has to change the way some horses perform from track to track in California.

Another breakdown tonight at PI. They are 2 for 2, batting 1000

Tapeta is total horseshit. Takes randomness to a higher level than even Polytrack. What absolute garbage. This is our sport.....if this is the direction its going, I'll go to sports betting or harness.