Did You See The Antics Of The Jock Who Won The World Cup Dubai

[sea biscuit]

I have to plead ignorance here, Pezzy. What's Tapeta, and why the 3 month shutdown? I don't follow the flats, so I'm not up on the lingo.

Pezz got me on 'tapeta' too.

I Googled and found out that it has something to do with a synthetic turf surface of a t-bred race track which is supposed to be very safe.

http://www.tapetafootings.com/

[pezz97]

I have to plead ignorance here, Pezzy. What's Tapeta, and why the 3 month shutdown? I don't follow the flats, so I'm not up on the lingo.

It is a synthetic surface. The only 2 tracks in the U.S that have it are Golden Gate and Presque isle Downs. It is a surface that most turf horses like compared to Dirt horses. Most horses with Turf Breeding are better on the Synthetic surfaces, that is why you see less and less American Horses go to Dubai.

3 years ago, when Santa Anita still had their synthetic surface, a lot of the better American horses didn't go cause it was that surface including Rachel. Most European Horses race on Mostly turf, and have a big advantage when racing on a synthetic surface.

As for the 3 months. With the travel to Dubai,the  race ,then the travel home, the American horses like The Factor, Game On Dude and Royal Delta, will now have to recover from that travel and won't race in the U.S until the June the earliest. it takes a lot out of the horses.

[NIATROSS]

The World Cup day has become another place to watch and play just the turf races IMO.Tthe race before the World Cup had a couple of nice turf horses and they ran 1-2.

The US needs to set up some kind of set of races for older horses early in the year.
There is NO G1 between the Big Cap in March and The Stephen Foster in June.
If you have an older horse you may as well take a shot at Dubai.I think they pay all the travel expenses for the horse trainer owners etc.It amounts to a paid vacation for many.I am sure Baffert received great care he may not have gotten elsewhere thanks to the Sheikh.

[Just Saying]

Didn't they have composite on Keeneland at one time? I seem to remember reading that they shipped some standarbreds over from The Red Mile for a demonstration race. Instead of harrowing the surface, they tamped it down with construction rollers. As I remember the times were just a bit slower and the drivers thought it was not too bad. If my foggy memory is correct, then they must have taken it back up and went back to dirt.

[pezz97]

Didn't they have composite on Keeneland at one time? I seem to remember reading that they shipped some standarbreds over from The Red Mile for a demonstration race. Instead of harrowing the surface, they tamped it down with construction rollers. As I remember the times were just a bit slower and the drivers thought it was not too bad. If my foggy memory is correct, then they must have taken it back up and went back to dirt.

Keeneland still has it

[Just Saying]

It is a synthetic surface. The only 2 tracks in the U.S that have it are Golden Gate and Presque isle Downs.

Hence, that is why I assumed Keeneland removed it there. Thanks for the rundown... I was too lazy to look it up.

[James Witherite]

If I recall, the synthetic tracks on this continent right now are:

Tapeta - GG, PID
Polytrack - Dmr, Kee, WO, AP, TP
Cushion Track - Hol

SA reverted to dirt a couple years ago, methinks.

[careless hal]

Welcome back James!
 

[pezz97]

If I recall, the synthetic tracks on this continent right now are:

Tapeta - GG, PID
Polytrack - Dmr, Kee, WO, AP, TP
Cushion Track - Hol

SA reverted to dirt a couple years ago, methinks.

Welcome back James 

[James Witherite]

Good to be back, boys.  (And girls!)