re: March 27th Live Blog!

Bill Couch — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:09:19 GMT

I would like to say a few words concerning the complaints certain horsemen made about the racing surface at Gulfstream Park on Florida Derby Day. The track was not sped up as some trainers observed, the track was lightning quick all week due to the rain from last Sunday and continued to show signs of being quick Florida Derby Day, when mostly speed favoring horses did have an advantage. However, track management did not change any of there tactics. How do I know? Simply said, I have worked with the track superintendent the past year and President Bill Murphy for over twenty years and I know the procedures they use to assure a safe and non-bias track surface on any day let alone for a big day like Florida Derby day. When it rains just like the surface at Thistledown, which by the way is one of the safest in the country gets faster by the design of the way it drains, which in turns creates faster times and yes somewhat speed bias, but by no way did Mr. Murphy or his track crew intentionally make the surface faster. The best horse Quality Road won and Dunkirk had a superb effort, but the racing gods were against him this day period. Good Luck to him shall he make the Derby field and good luck to all in there future endeavors.