Del Mar surface question cancels a.m. training

[Alan07]

Surface issue prompts Del Mar to cancel training
By Steve Andersen

http://www.drf.com/news/article/114995.html

DEL MAR, Calif. - Del Mar cancelled training on its Polytrack synthetic surface on Thursday morning after overnight maintenance created inconsistencies in the surface through the stretch, according to racing secretary Tom Robbins. Robbins described the problem as a "separation" of the sand and fiber that is part of the Polytrack material. "There were uneven spots, especially in the stretch," Robbins said.

The main track was closed Thursday shortly after training began before dawn. By mid-morning, track maintenance crews, directed by track superintendent Richard Tedesco, were remixing the surface in advance of racing on Thursday. "It's a thorough mixing of the material," Robbins said.

Training was reduced to horses being jogged in a one-furlong area in a backstretch chute and limited activity on a small training track adjacent to the main track. Robbins said Thursday morning that the track was expected to be fine for racing that afternoon.