[socantra]

I think it must be a management thing. Something that administrators do when they have too much time on their hands, or maybe an attempt to justify their existemce.

I can't get real excited about it, but then, I got to watch the last noble experiment with Equitrack at Remington Park in the late 80's and early 90's. It was a brand new plant, complete with a brand new miracle surface that had been developed and used extensively on training tracks in England.

Well, it wasn't really bad, but it had its own problems just like all the artftctal surfaces that have been tried and largely abandoned in sports stadiums oer the last 40 years. There are unattended consequences, and the much touted goal of cheaper maintainence, which would allow them to lay off employees, doesn't ever seem to materialize. In fact, maintainence costs usually go up.

According to their FAQ, this new Polytrack surface degrades from manure, so I gues they have figured out a method of persuading the horses not to ****, or are going to follow them around the track with horsey pooper scoopers.

It will probably be there a few years, so as not to embarras any of the dumb bastards in management, then will quietly disappear.

Most likely, they will find like Remington Park, that good trainers are not going to risk their best horses on this unproven experimental surface and that it winds up costing them much more than plain old dirt, which this country still has an abundance of.

Dick...