http://www.animals24-7.org/2016/08/24/2016-del-mar-thoroughbred-deaths-may-set-new-track-record/
The track wants to delay opening day in 2017, to allow the horses to get used to the footing and hopefully reduce catastrophic injuries.
I don’t know that much about training racehorses, but I do occasionally go to Del Mar during the racing season. To those of you in the business, what do you think about this plan ?
A little of a feeling that the person/people who wrote those were not completely up on facts vs feelings. Yes, I am not disputing numbers but IMO Barbaro was not euthanized after many failed attempts at rehab. His was, IMO, one long protracted recovery with no guarantee that he would recover.
I think the number of deaths is concerning. I would really, really like to understand why based on analyzing the breakdowns and trying to understand how and why they happened.
Racing is dangerous. I do agree that we need to do all we can to keep the participants safe while at the same time knowing that won’t always be possible.
My free opinion and worth what anyone paid for it 
Del Mar is pretty prestigious in Southern California and owners want to run there. Horses get claimed and are pointed specifically for Del Mar because it is perceived as the place to show off.
That said, there is a theory that not only is it a problematic track but also some of the horses are running on it are problematic themselves. It is the best place to unload a horse because someone will want to run at Del Mar. There always seems to be a spike in the first 2 weeks that levels off as the meet progresses. Is that maintenance? Is it the track surface? or is it the glamor of Del Mar?
To the extent it is the track surface beat down after the Fair, it’s a good idea. But delaying a week won’t address the rest of it.
Um, hundreds of horses walk on to a van, ship to another race track, stand around the receiving barn for a few hours, run their race, cool out and ship back to their home track every single day without dying. They didn’t need to get used to the track. I don’t know what the problem with Del Mar is so don’t have any idea what the answer is but getting used to the track isn’t it.
Historically, whether synthetic or dirt, the track has been consistent. When breakdowns occur, caution is advised but often, like has been pointed out, those reporting are not fully informed.
http://www.horseracingbusiness.com/analysis-of-horse-fatalities-at-del-mar-14326.htm
Thank you for that link. That really puts it in perspective.
Also thank you to the other posters for their opinions. I’ve learned alot. The San Diego press always takes Joe Harper’s word as gospel, and to hear the more truthful version from you all is very informative.
Shammy, consistent or inconsistent as it seems to me to be very inconsistent.
Why did Del Mar pull out the synthetic surface (and I know they are not the only ones that have gone dirt/synthetic/dirt)? Are there really more hind soft tissue injuries with synthetic?
I am thinking the fair doesn’t help the surface but wonder how much it hurts it, how to measure that and what after-fair work could be done to the track to “help” it.
I’m kinda on Laurie’s side… will opening the race meet a week later really help horses “get used to” the track??? I don’t think so…
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8815866]
Um, hundreds of horses walk on to a van, ship to another race track, stand around the receiving barn for a few hours, run their race, cool out and ship back to their home track every single day without dying. They didn’t need to get used to the track. I don’t know what the problem with Del Mar is so don’t have any idea what the answer is but getting used to the track isn’t it.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8816074]Historically, whether synthetic or dirt, the track has been consistent. When breakdowns occur, caution is advised but often, like has been pointed out, those reporting are not fully informed.
http://www.horseracingbusiness.com/analysis-of-horse-fatalities-at-del-mar-14326.htm[/QUOTE]
What Laurie said. And here is a quote from Shammy’s link:
“One inference is clear from statistics in The Equine Injury Database: synthetic surfaces manifestly produce the least fatalities per 1,000 starts of any surface and therefore Del Mar management increased the risk of racehorses dying when it opted to replace its synthetic surface with dirt, as shown by the increase in the number of fatalities from 1.75 in 2014 on synthetic to 2.44 in 2015 on dirt. Moreover, there is strong evidence that Del Mar has been unable to maintain a consistent turf surface. Finally, data from 2015 indicate that Del Mar’s dirt surface is less safe than the average for all North American racetracks, although more evidence from additional years is needed to confirm this hypothesis.”
So did Del Mar switch to dirt to get the Breeders Cup 2017? And yes synthetic I think has better statistics, but is that due to the surface or because, for the most part (not ALL) synthetic is/was at the better tracks and not so many lower level claiming races are run on synthetic? I don’t have time now but maybe I’ll look up the dirt fatality %, synthetic %, and dirt % of tracks that make changes.
This is a very complicated subject. Back in 2008, Bill Finley, who writes about synthetic surface handicapping (among other horse racing topics) for ESPN etc., reported that the % of breakdowns between dirt and synthetic were not wildly different. As I recall, a fraction of a percentage point or more. Don’t hold me to that, I once sat on Sun Beau’s tombstone so long ago I can’t remember where it is. I do know that oddly most of the research and publications on synthetic surfaces are British. I’ve read a number of them. They are very informative, but none of them, because of the technology is so new, have any idea which poly/all weather surface produces better safety. Whether a dirt, turf, or synthetic surface succeeds as safer is based largely on the sub-surface construction and drainage. Synthetic surfaces are extremely high maintenance and expensive to maintain. It is no surprise to me that tracks are returning to dirt surfaces for that reason and not only because most races in the USA are on dirt.
I recall that Dr. Rick Arthur, CA state veterinarian, has been often quoted as supporting the “safer than dirt” theory for synthetic surfaces. I am not aware that he has changed his position recently.
Recently, the Paulick Report had an article on breakdowns at Charles Town. I think it reported 147 deaths over the past 12 months. Its bull ring track is dirt and more dirt. Now if you question the safety of dirt tracks check that out. It has been a number of years since I have traveled there, but I suspect no one has a clue what is geologically or man-made supporting that track surface. JMHO, but in the case of the minor league and historically older tracks, it is reasonable to suspect that very little attention is given by the track owners to sub-surface maintenance and renewal. Collapsing or failing infrastructures such as road bed and drainage gradients and fixtures go completely unnoticed, thus contributing to unstable surface performance. Many should recall the drainage problems at Santa Anita when it switched back to dirt. Flooding and more flooding as I recall. Stronach just removed the synthetic material and layered on the dirt one. No sub-surface renewal at all.
I offered up the Bill Shanklin link as informative, so I apologize if some of it might have been contradictory. Consistent is in the eye of the beholder. Three horses breaking down on Preakness Day might be consistent for Pimilico, if you think horse racing is lacking in caring for its horses or you are an uninformed sports writer who normally covers tennis, but inconsistent to the trainer or keen turf writer (who are almost extinct) that shows up for the morning gallops on a daily basis.
As for Del Mar, it is a flip of the coin or the position of the moon as to what the benefit will be. Some days at any track are worse than others. Maybe the racing secretary should carry his prayer book and rosary beads.
Sounds like Del Mar has been granted a 5 day “reprieve” on opening day next year.
I’m personally not buying the ‘so horsemen can get their horses on the track and used to the surface’ line but if Del Mar will use that time to rework the racing surface after the fair departs, I’m all for that…
The fair uses a small portion of the dirt track in front of the grandstand.
How does that impact the entire racing surface ?
[QUOTE=Mardi;8817447]
The fair uses a small portion of the dirt track in front of the grandstand.
How does that impact the entire racing surface ?[/QUOTE]
It would be hard to tell. Didn’t I just read that the CHRC is looking into this?
At their recent meeting at Del Mar, I don’t think the CHRB had it on the agenda, but made preemptory statements when the media arrived. That’s what was reported by another news outlet (radio or tv, can’t remember).
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/214521/del-mar-critics-speak-out-at-chrb-meeting
[QUOTE=Mardi;8817951]
At their recent meeting at Del Mar, I don’t think the CHRB had it on the agenda, but made preemptory statements when the media arrived. That’s what was reported by another news outlet (radio or tv, can’t remember).
To be perfectly honest, I think using the track for a stage setup is stupid and callous but I don’t think it would impair the track over the long term. The opening delay imo is more public relations than settling the horses in.
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