I've only been to horse races once and honestly, I was mostly watching the horses go and what they did for them after they were done racing. So, I don't know if I agree with it or not.
Arlington Park is having their dirt track removed and putting in this new one because it will be safer for the horses and I think that is very good. The article refers to them as athletes which I like, because that is what they are.
Arlington Park to Install State-of-the-Art Racing Surface for 2007 Season
CHICAGO (December 7, 2006) -- Arlington Park announced today that it will begin construction immediately to replace its conventional dirt track with a new state-of-the-art, synthetic racing surface to enhance athlete safety in advance of the 2007 race meet, which begins on Friday, May 4, 2007.
“Arlington Park has always and will continue to provide the very best that horseracing has to offer,” said Arlington Park President Roy Arnold in making the announcement at the ESPN Zone in Chicago. “While we are confident the track’s current dirt surface is one of the best, the fact is we lost horses last summer and that’s not acceptable. If we lose one horse, it’s one too many. We have been diligently monitoring other synthetic track installations and racing results, and now possess the knowledge necessary to move forward with a synthetic surface to ensure that Arlington Park remains one of the finest racing surfaces.”
Track officials say the new, synthetic track will substantially raise the level of consistency and safety.
Synthetic horseracing surfaces are comprised of natural and man-made materials that combine to produce a turf-like track that is more forgiving than traditional dirt surfaces, resulting in reduced risk of injury when hooves are planting and sliding on the soil.
“The quality of the track surface has a direct effect on the safety and performance of the horses,” said Dr. Michael Peterson, one of the experts hired by the Illinois Racing Board to review Arlington’s dirt track this summer.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks