Santa Anita with Cushion and a twist

[2Hot4TV]

Being one of the last racetracks to install one seems to have been an advantage for Santa Anita.

Charles said his track is tighter than the ones at Hollywood Park and Del Mar, mainly because of the use of a heat-resistant jelly wax, and it should produce faster times and be fairer to horsemen and bettors.

Another plus, Charles pointed out, is that the rubber chips mixed into the surface to help make it tighter have been "granulated down." There were complaints at Hollywood Park that the larger chips were flying up and hitting the horses.

They will also water the track to keep the handicappers on their toes.