Santa Anita Confident in New Dirt Surface
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As Santa Anita Park prepares to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships Oct. 31-Nov. 1, track management is confident its new dirt surface will perform well and safely.
During an Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup media briefing on safety and security, Santa Anita president Tom Ludt said the new surface, which debuted in late September and is primarily "El Segundo sand," is regularly monitored for moisture content. That was an issue on the first day of the 2013 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita when there was a definitive speed bias.
"The old track became inconsistent," Ludt said. "(The Stronach Group) invested an enormous amount of money (in the surface), and the number one goal is always the safety of the horses and jockeys."
Current track superintendent Dennis Moore wasn't in charge of the surface last year. Ludt indicated changes have been made in the maintenance of the surface in the last year.
"We will be prepared for whatever God brings us," Ludt said of the upcoming Breeders' Cup. "We do everything we can to monitor the racing surfaces. It's a challenge in Southern California. It needs to be worked and played on a little bit, but we've gotten very little negative feedback from jockeys and trainers since the surface was put in."
"The surface has been very safe," said Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.
In regard to security, Breeders' Cup senior vice president of racing Dora Delgado noted that all event horses were required to be on the grounds 72 hours before their races and will be under 24-hour guard. There are 10-12 racing investigators on the grounds as well as 150 safety officers who monitor stall access.
Breeders' Cup horses are spread around 35-40 barns at Santa Anita, which Delgado said is "challenging" for the security team.
Arthur said out-of-competition testing samples have been screened and cleared with the exception of one that was late to the laboratory. All starters will have blood samples drawn for TCO2 testing, and the first four finishers in each race, plus others at the discretion of the stewards, will undergo the full battery of tests.
He said the samples will be shipped to the University of California-Davis lab early the morning of Nov. 2, with the results expected Nov. 3-4.
The customary pre-race inspections will be performed on all Breeders' Cup horses. Arthur and Dr. Deborah Lamparter, the Breeders' Cup veterinary team leader, said the horses actually are under observation by veterinarians throughout the day.
Drs. Larry Bramlage and Wayne McIlwraith will again handle the American Association of Equine Practitioners "On Call" veterinary duties for the media and television audience. It was announced, however, that this will be their last year. Iin 2015 Dr. Scott Palmer, equine medical director for the New York State Gaming Commission, and Dr. Alan Ruggles of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital will handle those duties.