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...