Why did Keenland even decide to put Poly****

[zippyneedsawin]

Here are some standard answers for the switch:

http://polytrack.com/qa.html



Other than that, doesn't Keeneland itself own an interest in Polytrack?

[Seattleallstar]

in short Polytrack is gay!, let it stay in Turfway where it belongs

[todko]

Keeneland owns 1/2 of Turfway (Harrah's [the casino giant] owns the other half). Keeneland/Turfway has more than an interest in Polytrack. They are the sole distributor of the surface in America.

Both Nick Nicholson (pres of KEE) and Bob Elliston (pres of TP) have been very active in promoting and selling the poly to other tracks. I don't know what they get out of it personally -- but they are at the forefront of the poly expansion. Del-Mar is going with poly and they had people out to Turfway long before the first horse ever ran on the surface.

It's all about the money and the latest sales pitch that it's best because it's safer for horses doesn't add up. The tracks have never been particularly concerned about horse or jockey safety. To get them to make safety related improvements has been like pulling teeth. The real sales pitch off the record is that it supposedly saves around $500,000 in yearly maintenance. Every track is going to buy into that. That's how it's being sold.

And Keeneland can't sell it without using it.

Originally Posted by todko

Keeneland owns 1/2 of Turfway (Harrah's [the casino giant] owns the other half). Keeneland/Turfway has more than an interest in Polytrack. They are the sole distributor of the surface in America.

Both Nick Nicholson (pres of KEE) and Bob Elliston (pres of TP) have been very active in promoting and selling the poly to other tracks. I don't know what they get out of it personally -- but they are at the forefront of the poly expansion. Del-Mar is going with poly and they had people out to Turfway long before the first horse ever ran on the surface.

It's all about the money and the latest sales pitch that it's best because it's safer for horses doesn't add up. The tracks have never been particularly concerned about horse or jockey safety. To get them to make safety related improvements has been like pulling teeth. The real sales pitch off the record is that it supposedly saves around $500,000 in yearly maintenance. Every track is going to buy into that. That's how it's being sold.

And Keeneland can't sell it without using it.

yeah,
I find it pretty funny because of what Round Pen said about the old surface there being very dangerous.
Its funny how everyone is all of a sudden so concerned about horse safety now that they can make cash on it.
WOuld it really have been so hard to make the dirt track safer all those years?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by todko

Keeneland owns 1/2 of Turfway (Harrah's [the casino giant] owns the other half). Keeneland/Turfway has more than an interest in Polytrack. They are the sole distributor of the surface in America.

Both Nick Nicholson (pres of KEE) and Bob Elliston (pres of TP) have been very active in promoting and selling the poly to other tracks. I don't know what they get out of it personally -- but they are at the forefront of the poly expansion. Del-Mar is going with poly and they had people out to Turfway long before the first horse ever ran on the surface.

It's all about the money and the latest sales pitch that it's best because it's safer for horses doesn't add up. The tracks have never been particularly concerned about horse or jockey safety. To get them to make safety related improvements has been like pulling teeth. The real sales pitch off the record is that it supposedly saves around $500,000 in yearly maintenance. Every track is going to buy into that. That's how it's being sold.

And Keeneland can't sell it without using it.

bingo!! how can you invest in something, and then not use it?? gotta put the $ where the mouth is, or vice versa in this case. they certainly can't bill it as the greatest thing since the wheel and then not install it. that track is now a billboard for the stuff, and no doubt will make them back more money than they spent installing it....