Keeping the Promise - by Eric Mitchell

re: Keeping the Promise - by Eric Mitchell

Conny — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 13:14:20 GMT

We are producer from Syntetic fibres for the best quality manufacturers in the world, we know that the impact from a good synthetic surface is a great benefit for horse and rider, we have a lot of people who are very happy with a high quality surface! you just need the best quality surface manufacturer and the best quality fibres to put in the surface ! In this part of Europe the people know how impotent it is to have a quality surface , a dirt surface is not so safe , hope they change there minds for the safety for horse and rider !

re: Keeping the Promise

judy burkhart — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:53:17 GMT

There are fewer catastrophic breakdowns BUT a higher number of soft tissue injuries as the synthetic surface does not allow the foot to slip on landing, but stops it cold. A lot of these lead to long term rests and sometimes instant retirement. I love horses, but I also look at the tremendous costs involved in racing and many small owners cannot afford long term layoffs.

re: Keeping the Promise

Deltalady — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:29:23 GMT

To me, the more important promise is to get the drugs, legal and illegal, out of the sport. Get rid of race day drugs in particular, change conditioning methods to actually help strengthen a horse's bones, especially young horses. Giving Lasix to 2 year olds at exactly the time they need minerals and nutrients for healthy bone growth is insane. Stop the gallop outs at two year old sales. It would be interesting to know what the statistics showed for tracks in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Perhaps drugs being more prevalent might have more to do with breakdowns at tracks than the track surface. Trying to separate the drug culture in the American sport from the other issues affecting the musculoskeletal health of our T'breds doesn't make sense. It's not just the racing surface, it is a combination of issues present in today's racing environment that weren't present in the past that should be looked at. It never is just one thing.

re: Keeping the Promise

Glorious Goodwood — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 17:41:30 GMT

YOu know they run the Synthetics in England for Winter racing at Kempton, and Lingfield. They are soon installing the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton. They going to installing the surface at other tracks also. They realize the value in the safety of the surface, and also this allows these courses to run racing in their winter climate, and hold up. The fact that Meydan is switching their main track back to dirt, just to draw a few US runners who will win the race in a canter, is really a non issue as the WOrld cup is a dressed up GR3. The Sheema Classic and Duty free ALWAYS draw much better quality fields and are true Gr1's. Now the fact that the world cup is the premier race and won'r include any premier runner from any other racing jurisdiction just cheapened the whole meaning of the race. The World cup should be switched with the Sheema Classic and make the premier race a Turf race going 12f. Anyways, I am, and always will be PRO synthetic.

re: Keeping the Promise

nu-fan — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:30:56 GMT

Very interesting article and about a subject that has intrigued me for some time. Yet, such conflicting information that has been available, making me wonder if these past opinions were self-serving ones. In the end, however, my thoughts are the same as always: Safety of the horses (and jockeys)always need to come first. Without that, I'm outta here! Fans do not want to see injuries and, all to frequently, these are life-ending injuries.

re: Keeping the Promise

Mafan — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 15:36:15 GMT

I really doubt synthetic surfaces will make a comeback. Major race tracks like Del Mar, Keeneland, & Meydan are all switching back to conventional dirt surfaces just like Santa Anita did.

Sad to say but we live in a world where profit comes first.

re: Keeping the Promise

Sandy McDonald — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:22:36 GMT

Very well said Mr. Mitchell, changing to dirt is a concern regarding your statistics, just hoping we can get it right. Horses & riders' safety should be our top priority in racing.