Del Mar PolyTrack
Wednesday, April 25th
Polytrack became a reality at Del Mar Monday (4/24/07) when horses galloped over the new racing surface for the first time following the complete installation of the $9-million track that appears to be the wave of the future in the Thoroughbred business.
Trainers Peter Miller and Doug O’Neill saddled a pair of 3-year-olds for a 6:30 a.m. jaunt around the mile oval that now is covered in the white/gray substance that makes up Polytrack -- silica sand, rubber, carpet fibers, spandex and wax. Trainer Miller galloped his filly Passion for Gumbo himself and O’Neill gave exercise rider Marco Ramirez a leg up on the colt Steamboat Bay. Both horses moved easily over the track and both riders gave thumbs up to the effort afterwards.
“They glided over it,” Miller said. “They only went in maybe a half an inch to an inch.”
“Nice,” reported Ramirez. “Consistent and kind. The horses are going to love this.”
A total of nine horses galloped over the track Monday morning and three more from the stable of trainer Neil Drysdale stretched their legs on it in the afternoon.
A reception was held by the Winner's Circle on Tuesday evening to introduce area horsemen to the new surface.
Del Mar’s first live racing on the new surface will take place on Wednesday, July 18.
Passion for Gumbo -- first racehorse to set foot on the Polytrack surface -- at 630 Monday morning with trainer Peter Miller aboard. The debut drew lots of media attention -- note the 5 television uplink truck antennae in the background |
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Hoofprints left in the Polytrack by the first two horses to gallop on the surface on Monday morning. Trainer Doub O'Neil sent out three the first morning. |
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Neil Drysdale trainee Key of Solomon galloping on the Polytrack surface on Monday afternoon. |
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Drysdale charges Eagle Ridge, with former jockey Corey Black up (inside) and Hit and Hope, exercise rider Debra Briggs in the irons, (outside) were the first to breeze on the Polytrack. |
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Trainer Bob Baffert (second from left) shown talking with DMTC's Tom Robbins and Joe Harper and DRF columnist/author Jay Hovedy was among horsemen attending a Tuesday reception to check out the surface. |
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Guests a the reception check out the specialized equipment that grooms the Polytrack surface. |
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Track Info
