NY Circuit to go Poly soon?

[Swap Fliparoo]

(Apologies if this has been reported here already but i didn't see it.)

Just got the July 21 TTimes, and there is an article (pg. 10) reporting that if Empire Racing Associates wins the NY racing contract they will go to PolyTrack on all 3 tracks, starting with Belmont...

NYRA is also contemplating a switch to Poly if they renew, their plan is to change SARATOGA over in the next 3-5 years!

Why are they doing this? it's a travesty, IMO.

If they get rid of Aqueduct and turn one of Belmont's two turf courses into poly so they can run on it in the winter I could understand that. Saratoga makes no sense though. I guess Del Mar did it though so more will follow. Owners seem to like it because it cuts down on vet bills and allows horses to run more often. I just can't imagine a day though when the Derby is run on polytrack.

[zippyneedsawin]

I had heard Empire would make the switch if it won the franchise.. but never heard NYRA was actually considering it. I just don't see why they would make a change when there hasn't really ever been a problem to begin with.

[Swap Fliparoo]

I am starting to think once NY goes Poly, Churchill will make their plans to do so as well.

But the thought of historic Saratoga being filled with blinding white stinky rubber is outrageous. And would cost $10-$11 million to convert, according to the article.

[Swap Fliparoo]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

I had heard Empire would make the switch if it won the franchise.. but never heard NYRA was actually considering it. I just don't see why they would make a change when there hasn't really ever been a problem to begin with.

Especially considering the problems that have surfaced with the bigger tracks that have already spent so much installing it! Give it a few years to pan out first, at least...

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

I had heard Empire would make the switch if it won the franchise.. but never heard NYRA was actually considering it. I just don't see why they would make a change when there hasn't really ever been a problem to begin with.

Why is it that this is the one item which all tracks and states are willing to latch onto?! How about uniform rules and all of the other bs that is going on in the industry!

[SniperSB23]

I hope it was just confusion and that they are just considering poly at Saratoga on the Oklahoma training track. It would probably be fine at Aqueduct but absolutely no need for it at Belmont or Saratoga. I guess Belmont could probably support all three surfaces.

[parsixfarms]

With the well-doumented problems on the Aqueduct main track, I think installing Polytrack there (which would give winter racing with far more options than the current inner dirt track) would make a great deal of sense.

I've also heard that there may be some consideration of installing it on the Oklahoma training track, especially with many of the past mainstays remaining in KY to train over Polytrack rather than coming to Saratoga for "off-season" training. I think it would be a while before we ever see Polytrack at either Belmont or Saratoga.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

With the well-doumented problems on the Aqueduct main track, I think installing Polytrack there (which would give winter racing with far more options than the current inner dirt track) would make a great deal of sense.

I've also heard that there may be some consideration of installing it on the Oklahoma training track, especially with many of the past mainstays remaining in KY to train over Polytrack rather than coming to Saratoga for "off-season" training. I think it would be a while before we ever see Polytrack at either Belmont or Saratoga.

this all makes a lot more sense to me.

[Swap Fliparoo]

It certainly "makes the most sense" to do AQU, one of Belmont's inner, and the Oklahoma track... but i am telling you the Empire and NYRA proposals are for all 3 *main* tracks. UGH! I hope they come to their senses if this article is correct.

[parsixfarms]

If I read the tea leaves correctly, I don't think we need to worry about anything Empire may have planned to do to NY racing.

[The Bid]

Very sad

[MisterB]

So when they close AQU, who will get the left over poly?

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by MisterB

So when they close AQU, who will get the left over poly?

It hope it will go to the dump.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Very sad

How so? IMHO, if there's been one good thing to come out of this whole mess, it's that Magna/Churchill will not be getting their paws on NY racing.

[ateamstupid]

Disgusting.

[The Bid]

Its sad to see the game I grew up loving changed because of a few english morons, and poor track management. Keeneland is mostly to blame, they were the first major track to install that crap. Of course Keeneland gets the best season to run on the poly. Turfway endured a brutal winter and lied about the track the entire way through, all the tracks have had issues with the surface eventhough its not discussed openly. WIthout getting into a big poly debate I just think its a very sad situation. Im heartsick they would even consider switching to synthetic in NY.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by The Bid

Its sad to see the game I grew up loving changed because of a few english morons, and poor track management. Keeneland is mostly to blame, they were the first major track to install that crap. Of course Keeneland gets the best season to run on the poly. Turfway endured a brutal winter and lied about the track the entire way through, all the tracks have had issues with the surface eventhough its not discussed openly. WIthout getting into a big poly debate I just think its a very sad situation. Im heartsick they would even consider switching to synthetic in NY.

Post of the day.

If it happens, R.I.P. New York racing.

All I've got to say is Mountaineer and Charles Town look better and better every day.

I have to believe somebody that owns polytrack is slipping a lot of money around under the table, if you know what I mean. It probably is much like road construction contracts. Give a few dollars to the right people and then all of the sudden you are building.

Sad to say it but I bet it is 4-5 or lower that america's big tracks will be just about 100% polytrack in 10 years.

[The Bid]

Lot of works cancelled today at Delmar because the track was rock hard. Talked to a guy there and he said it was ridiculous. Of course they say they are just working out the kinks, we will see