HAMMERLE: Santa Anita => CushionTrack

[theiman]

SANTA ANITA TO INSTALL CUSHION TRACK

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2007)—Santa Anita Park has announced that it has contracted with Equestrian Surfaces of the United Kingdom to install Cushion Track, virtually the same synthetic racing surface installed at Hollywood Park Racecourse a year earlier.

Cushion Track is composed of silica sand mixed with synthetic fibers, elastic fiber and granulated rubber. The material is coated with a blend of wax.

“We believe we have done very thorough due diligence,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. “We went to racetracks around the world numerous times to evaluate synthetic tracks from the point of view of the horsemen, jockeys, fans, weather conditions and track operators.”

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. “We believe the horsemen will definitely appreciate this consistency, because there’s a definite level of confidence that the horses display when they train daily over virtually the same surface.”

The target date for project completion is the first week in September, which would allow for approximately three weeks of training prior to the opening of the Oak Tree race meeting on Sept. 26.

With the proposed installation of synthetic tracks at Golden Gate Fields and Santa Anita Park, the number of races that will need to be run on dirt tracks in the L.A. and Bay areas of California can be reduced dramatically.

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