[NoChanceToDance]

Not looking good for the turf tomorrow......

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Rains wreaks havoc on Monmouth track, turf course


by Tom De Martini

Persistent rain throughout Friday’s Breeders’ Cup World Championship card forced Monmouth Park track superintendent Robert Juliano to seal the sloppy main track and downgrade the turf course to yielding.

Conditions are expected to continue to deteriorate Friday night with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast through early Saturday afternoon.

Heavy rain is expected overnight and is forecast to continue through early Saturday afternoon. Clearing skies and gusty northwest winds are forecast from approximately 2 p.m. EDT Saturday through the scheduled 5:35 p.m. post time for the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).

Juliano said a sloppy racetrack is likely for the Classic.

“If we get real lucky and the rain moves out real fast Saturday, we may get it to muddy or good, using the steel plates to seal the track, followed by the rakes,” Juliano said.

Juliano said horses in the first five races on Friday’ s Breeders’ Cup card were driving through the main track’s base and down to the cushion, which is 85% sand and a 15% mixture of silt and clay.

“This is the worst kind of rain, because it’s aggravating the track and the moisture just lays there. If the rain came down heavily, it could run off quicker,” Juliano said.

Juliano will continue to consult with Breeders’ Cup racing officials on the condition of the turf course and whether any Saturday races may come off of the turf.

“The Breeders’ Cup will do everything to keep the races on the turf,” said Jim Gluckson, spokesman for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Juliano said the inside of the turf course has not been used since August 5 and only Queen’s Plate shoes are permitted.

The rail for Friday’s Breeders’ Cup turf races was set at 24 feet.