Arlington Park Installing Polytrack
Feb 7, 5:58 PM (ET) http://sports.iwon.com/news/02072007/v8805.html
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) -Arlington Park has chosen Polytrack as the synthetic surface that will replace its conventional dirt track, where 22 thoroughbreds suffered fatal injuries during last year's summer meet.
Polytrack, made of wax-coated sand, synthetic fibers and recycled rubber, is considered a safer surface and will be installed in time for the start of the racing season on May 4. The cost will be about $10 million.
"We are confident that our new Polytrack surface will provide the safest and best racing surface possible and will strengthen our leadership in the racing industry," track president Roy Arnold said in a statement Tuesday.
The increase in deaths on the Arlington track, along with Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's breakdown in the Preakness on May 20, were factors in initiating the change.
All 22 fatal injuries occurred on the dirt track. In 2005, 12 horses were fatally injured on the track - eight on the dirt, four on the turf course; in 2004 the total was 14 - 13 on the dirt.
Several major tracks have switched from dirt to synthetic surfaces, including Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., which recently installed Polytrack. The track had a significant decline in horse breakdowns in last fall's meet.
Three independent experts inspected Arlington's dirt surface and found it well maintained after last year's rash of fatal breakdowns. But the experts also said European-pioneered synthetic surfaces are more consistent and appear to be safer.
Arlington Park plans a 94-day meet in 2007 from May 4-Sept. 16. The park is owned by Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc.
