Santa Anita's Cushion Track Opens for Training on September 4th

TRAINING SET TO RESUME AS SANTA ANITA UNVEILS $10 MILLION CUSHION TRACK


http://www.santaanita.com/news/pr.ph...santaanitaunve


ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 28, 2007)—Santa Anita Park, which has been closed to training and under major construction since July 5, will unveil its new Cushion Track surface for training on Sept. 4. Cushion Track, installed at a cost of more than $10 million, is a synthetic racing surface that is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fiber and shredded rubber, is expected to greatly enhance equine and jockey safety and to provide players with a consistent, all-weather surface that will enhance customer confidence.

“We are very excited to welcome our horsemen back. This has been a major undertaking and we are very confident that this new Cushion Track surface is going to satisfy everyone’s needs and expectations,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. “The project has gone according to plan and I think our fans are going to love it. We expect that the surface will be safe, fair and consistent, day in and day out. This truly is the dawn of a new day in horse racing here in Southern California,” he added.

Santa Anita’s stable area, which has been closed since July 5 as well, will reopen on Sept. 1. Santa Anita’s sand-based training track will be open for training on Sept. 2.

One of the many advantages to Cushion Track is that it requires far less maintenance than a conventional dirt surface. Accordingly, there will be just one break for renovation during training hours, at 7:15 a.m. The main track will open each day for training at 4:45 a.m.

Cushion Track will make its official debut with the racing world on Sept. 26, which is opening day of Santa Anita’s 39th annual Oak Tree meeting.

Let the bitching begin...

[miraja2]

I don't follow Cali-racing very closely, but isn't this surface pretty much what they have at Hollywood? There wasn't much bitching there was there?
It isn't like they have the same surface as Del Mar.

Originally Posted by miraja2

I don't follow Cali-racing very closely, but isn't this surface pretty much what they have at Hollywood? There wasn't much bitching there was there?
It isn't like they have the same surface as Del Mar.

The weather can be quite different from Inglewood and the downhill turf races will have to cross the new surface.

Should be interesting.

[10 pnt move up]

If its like hollywood from mid to late summer I would be more then happy.

[gamblin4ever]

Hopefully Santa Anita will listen to the trainers about the track and tweak accordingly.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Cusion track is far greater than polytrack but less than natural dirt.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

"Charles cited that a key factor in the decision was the consistency of having almost identical racing surfaces at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita. He stated that it was impossible to ignore how well horsemen have received and praised the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. "

I thought they went with a 3rd type of synthetic.Obviously,somebody figured out this is the most "dirt-like." Even a horse who likes a fast dirt surface(i.e. Lava Man) was able to win on the cushion.I don't think POLY is anywhere near as good as this stuff.My only concern is January-February(rain.)

[theiman]

If cushion track is always supposed to be fast(even in the rain), there would be no reason to cancel the downhill races on off weather days as they did in the past.

Also SA in October can easily be near 100 vs HP which is much closer to the Pacific.

Should be interesting meet, coming from Polycrap to Cushion