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[jpops757]

About 30 yrs ago Remington installed an alweather syn track. Noone liked it and it lasted 1 maybe 2 seasons. Does anyone know the differance in what remington used and the current syn tracks. I think it was advertised as the same as they used in Euro for training. I think the ownership was the same owners as Arlington.

[Holland Hacker]

I think that surface was a bit different from today's synthetic surfaces. I think that surface was basically dirt and sand encapsulated in a some kind of material (Polymer or wax or something).

I remember when that came out and seeing a picture of a horse on a rainy day and you couldn't tell the horse even ran on the track. There was also a picture of a horse running on it and all you could see was water splashing when it was wet. It was definitely different than the tracks of today.

After I responded I googled remington race track history and found the following:

Remington Park Race Track History

• In 1988, Remington Park race track was built, becoming the first such race track in the state's history. It was built by Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., the shopping mall developer who also built Thistledown and Louisiana Downs.
• Remington was the first (and only) American track to use Equitrack, which utilized grains of sand coated with wax. Equitrack was to have provided a safe all-weather racing surface that would reduce life-threatening injuries to horses and jockeys.
• In 1991, Remington Park race track reverted to a traditional dirt surface after horsemen complained that Oklahoma 's summer heat melted the wax.
• Currently, Remington Park race track is owned by Magna Entertainment Corporation.

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Holland Hacker

Remington was the first (and only) American track to use Equitrack, which utilized grains of sand coated with wax. Equitrack was to have provided a safe all-weather racing surface that would reduce life-threatening injuries to horses and jockeys.

Calder ( and Tropical ) used a synthetic track called "Tartan" in the 60's

[Pedigree Ann]

Tropical Park ran on dirt until its unfortunate demise in 1970/1, thereabouts. Since then, Calder has run the dates assigned to the Tropical Park Racing Association in November and December. Calder had its first meeting in May 1971 and had "Tartan track", a brainchild of the track's main backer Charles McKnight of 3M (and Tartan Farm). The Am. Racing Manual describes this as "sand over a synthetic surface."

Before Calder, there was no summer racing in Florida and the Tartan track was an attempt to allow the track to be usable during periods of heavy summer rain.

[chucklestheclown]

Teflon? Those who don't know history...