The Sprint and Turf Sprint were both after it last year. It was also PST last year as it was at Santa Anita. It all comes down to when the games are scheduled. This year the game must be earlier than last year.CoronadosQuest wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:15 pmIt was the second to last race last year. With it being in PST this year, NBC has to make way for college football games so thats why its early afternoon.
Sloppy and off the turf?BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 5:02 pm For all of those waiting hopefully for a BC in NY:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... nt-rebuild
I can see it now. Brimming with anticipation over the Road to the Breeder’s Cup Synth!BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:18 pm Maybe that is what the new synthetic track will be good for.
Speaking of Breeders......can you breed for Synthetic?Curtis wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 11:43 amI can see it now. Brimming with anticipation over the Road to the Breeder’s Cup Synth!BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:18 pm Maybe that is what the new synthetic track will be good for.
When CA switched to synthetics, Swiss Yodeler went from being the leading sire in the state to being exiled. Those Swiss Yodelers just spun their wheels on that stuff. Unusual Heat went from being a good turf sire to being the leading sire in CA.stark wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 1:01 pmSpeaking of Breeders......can you breed for Synthetic?Curtis wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 11:43 amI can see it now. Brimming with anticipation over the Road to the Breeder’s Cup Synth!BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 6:18 pm Maybe that is what the new synthetic track will be good for.
All the iterations were made of similar ingredients. What CA couldn’t figure out was how to account for microclimates. The most consistent area in terms of climate is where Hollywood Park was and probably why they had the best surface. They also figured out early how much dirt could be in the mix to still be called synthetic and they kept that ratio pretty consistently. Besides wanting a Breeder’s Cup, Del Mar switched it out because the asphalt base was breaking up into fairly sizable chunks that were working their way up to the surface. GGF did do well with an early version of Tapeta. I don’t know if it had the asphalt base or not. But again totally different climate.
I read that horses in Japan are working over woodchips, what's that all about?Curtis wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:04 pmAll the iterations were made of similar ingredients. What CA couldn’t figure out was how to account for microclimates. The most consistent area in terms of climate is where Hollywood Park was and probably why they had the best surface. They also figured out early how much dirt could be in the mix to still be called synthetic and they kept that ratio pretty consistently. Besides wanting a Breeder’s Cup, Del Mar switched it out because the asphalt base was breaking up into fairly sizable chunks that were working their way up to the surface. GGF did do well with an early version of Tapeta. I don’t know if it had the asphalt base or not. But again totally different climate.
The old Pomona and later Fairplex surface had a high content of bark. Some horsemen swore by it and trained there all year. You could get some pretty torrential rain there like at Santa Anita and the bark held up well in the rain. It did break down quickly though and it had to be replenished. Once upon a time, a typical racing day there would consist of an Appy race, two QH races and nine TB races. When there were QH trials, the race day would be even longer. It’s hard to find a surface that works for both QH and TB people, but they seemed to figure it out there. Coincidentally I believe the surname of the track super there was Wood.stark wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:20 pmI read that horses in Japan are working over woodchips, what's that all about?Curtis wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:04 pmAll the iterations were made of similar ingredients. What CA couldn’t figure out was how to account for microclimates. The most consistent area in terms of climate is where Hollywood Park was and probably why they had the best surface. They also figured out early how much dirt could be in the mix to still be called synthetic and they kept that ratio pretty consistently. Besides wanting a Breeder’s Cup, Del Mar switched it out because the asphalt base was breaking up into fairly sizable chunks that were working their way up to the surface. GGF did do well with an early version of Tapeta. I don’t know if it had the asphalt base or not. But again totally different climate.
I think the woodchips hold up well in the very cold/wet/snowy months. I’ve only ever seen them on straight uphill gallops.stark wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:20 pmI read that horses in Japan are working over woodchips, what's that all about?Curtis wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:04 pmAll the iterations were made of similar ingredients. What CA couldn’t figure out was how to account for microclimates. The most consistent area in terms of climate is where Hollywood Park was and probably why they had the best surface. They also figured out early how much dirt could be in the mix to still be called synthetic and they kept that ratio pretty consistently. Besides wanting a Breeder’s Cup, Del Mar switched it out because the asphalt base was breaking up into fairly sizable chunks that were working their way up to the surface. GGF did do well with an early version of Tapeta. I don’t know if it had the asphalt base or not. But again totally different climate.
Speaking of off track and Hollywood Park, a favorite trivia question.....who was the all-time winningest trainer there?Diver52 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 1:54 pm Hah, Curtis, you youngster--you mean you don't remember when they ran harness races at the Fair? At least I don't think I'm imagining it, and although I remember the QH races I don't remember Appy races. Those were the days when they also ran harness at Hollywood Park. Do they still run them at Cal Expo? Since I dropped off watching The Quarters at Los Al I'm out of touch. (Sorry, just realized I'm leading this BC thread even farther off topic!)