Kentucky Derby on Pollytrack ?
 

How long before the Kentucky Derby; americas oldest continuously run sporting event, the best two minutes in sports,
is changed forever with the inaugural running of the great event on pollytrack ??:eek:

I would venture to say within the next five years every major track on the north american continent will have pollytrack, including, Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby 138, inaugural running on Pollytrack.

the horses are getting stronger and stronger, thier muscles are so large now that they shatter their bones from the foot pounds of torgue they explode with upon acceleration. the pollytrack will cushion these compression forces on the bones, but at the same time will slow the horses by absorbing the thrust.

if it saves 1 life, it is worth it, imo.

I don't think this will happen
trainers & handicappers will aviod polytrack
like the plague

20 years maybe. Not 5.

I don't see Churchill, Belmont, or Saratoga moving to polytrack in the near future. All the other tracks may but I don't think those tracks will change until trainers are not running their horses there because they don't want to take them off polytrack.

Don't know if the traditionalists will ever allow anything but dirt. But if they DO end up running the Derby on Polytrack, will we have to start calling it the best *three* minutes in sports?

If Keeneland is doing it, it will happen. KEE is regarded as the ultimate "traditionalist" in the racing world.

I think that the future of polytrack will depend on how it works out in California. If it successful in California then I think that you are correct that polytrack will spread quickly. But if it's not successful in California, I think that polytrack will be done. It's not just a mater of whether the horsemen like it. The bettors will need to like it too. If the bettors don't like it and there is a big drop in handle, that will be pretty much be the end of polytrack. We will see what happens here in California. I am cautiously optimistic.

It WILL NOT happen in our lifetime - that I can assure you of....the Churchill people aren't crazy about it to start, and CD's main track is very kind to horses....they won't bock tradional unless there was a problem and there is not a problem with that dirt track...

Good point. Actually, when you think about it, there was nothing very 'traditional' about the Yum! Brands sponsorship this year -- so maybe traditionalism won't be that much of a factor..

this crop of three year olds will be the test.
the times for the three year olds in the dirt preps races have long been documented and scrutinized almost to a fault. any deviation between the spring 2007 times and the past will quivckly be noted by those who care and follow the spring races.
what should also be noted most quickly is whether or not the hollywood futurity winner makes it to the derby this year.
both declans moon and steviebrokenhorse both had their bids shortened before May. It will interesting to note how this years winner fares in 07.

Maybe 10 years ago, but not anymore...

Remember that all of the 3 year old prep races in California are at Santa Anita. Santa Anita is still going to have their regular dirt track this coming year so we won't see any horses having their prep races on polytrack this year.

i thought they were all changing this fall ??

still many races will be run at pollywood, and who knows maybe some more will train there thst haven't.

i was originally opposed to the stuff because of the dust, but it is easier on the horses legs according to the reports, and after watching BARBARO shatter his leg just from the thrust force, and seeing what it took to keep him alive till today, if it will help them remain healthy,
i say change all the tracks.

The only races that will be run at Hollywood will be at the Fall meet which is run from early November until about Dec 21. Then they go to Santa Anita and will be there until late April.

You are correct that many horses will be training full-time on the polytrack at Hollywood. They will be training there even during the Santa Anita meet. That can make a big difference because even though the horses will have to race at Santa Anita, at least they don't have the constant every day pounding on a rock-hard track like that.

With regard to Santa Anita switching to polytrack, that's not going to happen for a while.

You guys are so off on PolyTrack it isnt even funny. Churchill will never go to the surface. It is that simple. Trainers absolutely LOVE PolyTrack. The times on PolyTrack have been just as good as dirt times at Turfway and Woodbine. The handle is also up at both tracks. So times and handle will be the same regardless of what track goes to whatever synthetic surface. PolyTrack is made for tracks that have bad surfaces. It is just that--nothing more and nothing less.

Pletcher confirmed Monday that he will be sending a string of horses to Southern California beginning with the opening of the Hollywood Park meet, which begins Nov. 1. Pletcher will keep horses stabled at Hollywood Park through at least the winter/spring meet at Santa Anita.

Pletcher, who has more than 150 horses in training, said it is still unclear how many horses he will be sending to California, but it will likely be between 20 and 40.

"Depends how many owners are interested," he said.

Pletcher said the main reason for opening up a division in California is the state's decision to implement a synthetic surface at its three racetracks. Hollywood Park's fall meet will be the first to utilize such a surface.

"The main reason is Polytrack is out there," Pletcher said. "We thought about going out there before, but one of the concerns was always how safe the surfaces are out there. Obviously, the purses are good. Mr [Michael] Tabor wants his horses training on Polytrack when possible."

Tabor is one of Pletcher's major clients, owning such horses as multiple stakes winning 2-year-old Circular Quay, Delaware Oaks winner Adieu, and The Green Monkey, the $16 million 2-year-old-in-training purchase who has yet to debut. Pletcher said The The Green Monkey, "probably" will train in California this winter.

Maybe someone can show me, but I have not seen one Top Trainer say they love Poly, in the above article, Pletcher does not say he loves it, it's the owner and if you're Pletcher what are you going to tell Tabor? No...Some lower level trainers might like it, because it keeps their cripples together, but what about a Top Trainer really speaking out on it...

You are missing one key thing--Trainers love TRAINING on the surface. They really have no opinion on racing on the surface. Pletchers doesnt mind the surface at all. He has raced several horses on PolyTrack. Biacone has come out and stated that he loves the PolyTrack surface.

It says the owner, not the Trainer...