SA SURFACE: No decision today

[Kasept]

Just off line with Rick Hammerle at Santa Anita..

No decision today. Likely tomorrow.

They are still analyzing dirt samples and getting construction estimates for how long it would take to take up the Cushion and lay down the dirt. (The timing of installation is a big issue right now and may end up being the deciding factor.)

[geeker2]

Attachment 628

[Rupert Pupkin]

As of yesterday, it looked like a done deal that they were going to put in conventional dirt. But now they have figured out that it would not be as easy as they thought. They are having a hard time finding the right kind of dirt and they are realizing that the whole process would be much tougher than they originally thought. So now they're sort of back to square one. They're not sure what they're going to do. They've got some synthetic track expert who's coming from Australia to take a look at the track and he's going to give them his opinion as to whether they can add something to the surface to make it drain.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

As of yesterday, it looked like a done deal that they were going to put in conventional dirt. But now they have figured out that it would not be as easy as they thought. They are having a hard time finding the right kind of dirt and they are realizing that the whole process would be much tougher than they originally thought. So now they're sort of back to square one. They're not sure what they're going to do. They've got some synthetic track expert who's coming from Australia to take a look at the track and he's going to give them his opinion as to whether they can add something to the surface to make it drain.

It's starting to sound more and more like a science project....where is Mr Peabody & Sherman when you need them.....

Maybe they would be better served if they all just gft.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

As of yesterday, it looked like a done deal that they were going to put in conventional dirt. But now they have figured out that it would not be as easy as they thought. They are having a hard time finding the right kind of dirt and they are realizing that the whole process would be much tougher than they originally thought. So now they're sort of back to square one. They're not sure what they're going to do. They've got some synthetic track expert who's coming from Australia to take a look at the track and he's going to give them his opinion as to whether they can add something to the surface to make it drain.

How can adding something to the track help it drain? They have said that the sand is what is causing the blockage and from what I understand, sand is a large part of cushion track.

Are you considering anything major like going to FG or Oaklawn for their meets instead of staying out there?

[Storm Cadet]

Cushion track won't drain properly??? Use this....

[Riot]

What did SA do with their old dirt?

When Del Mar converted, they donated their dirt to a playground/soccer field complex, saved that group about a million bucks in construction costs.

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Scav

How can adding something to the track help it drain? They have said that the sand is what is causing the blockage and from what I understand, sand is a large part of cushion track.

Are you considering anything major like going to FG or Oaklawn for their meets instead of staying out there?

No, I don't think so.

[Riot]

They've got some synthetic track expert who's coming from Australia to take a look at the track and he's going to give them his opinion as to whether they can add something to the surface to make it drain.

From DRF:

In the meantime, Charles brought Ian Pearse, the founder of Pro-Ride, another synthetic surface company, in from Australia to consult on the ongoing problems at Santa Anita.

Pro-Ride was the finalist with Cushion Track. This tells me SA has little faith in the Cushion Track folks.