Race Track Footing Improvements

July 31, 2006

Redwings understands that horse racing will continue for the foreseeable future, and that injuries to horses and riders are common. Improvements in safety for the horses is clearly important.

The California Horse Racing Board recently voted to require the tracks at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Del Mar, Bay Meadows, and Golden Gate Field replace their dirt tracks with synthetic surfaces before the end of 2007. The synthetic material is made of recycled rubber and fine sand, both coated with wax.

Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, was the first to install this kind of track surface, and it resulted in injuries during a comparable period going from 24 with a dirt track to three on the synthetic track.

While we track Barbaro’s hopeful return to health, we can encourage all tracks to begin using synthetic surfaces. Write the California Horse Racing Board with your support for this milestone decision.

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