Page 21 - The Game August 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, August 2006 21
POLYTRACK - CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
Although a great deal of hot air had been wasted before first post about the advantage earned by jockeys with Greenwood and ‘bull’ ring experience, it was Emma-Jayne Wilson who scored the first win on the new dirt, guiding Driving Ms Chelsea to a 4-length win and setting a track record for a mile and a sixteenth in the process.
“It’s just a matter of adapting,” said Wilson, who has never ridden competitively outside Woodbine or Fort Erie. Addressing the argument of getting a horse to the lead
early on the shorter track, Wilson flashed a cocky smile, “As far as I was concerned,” she said, “The only place
to be on the lead was when we hit the wire.”
Emile Ramsammy rode the day’s second winner, helping Highland Glory break his maiden at five furlongs. “The horse handled the track well.” reported Ramsammy after the race, “The surface is pretty good. I’m
very happy with it and I think everyone should like it.” Highland Glory cut fractions of :22, 44 4/5 and set a course record of 56 4/5, which lasted all of about 28 min- utes, but it does indicate the inner track will not suppress fast times. Considering that the five furlong times for the main track in April and May were generally around 58 and 59 seconds, it certainly tells us the pro tem surface is a fast
one.
Jockey Jim McAleney found nothing on the track to
wipe the perpetual grin off his face.
“The stretches are a little bit longer here and the turns
are a little bit tighter than we had at Greenwood,” said McAleney, “Having a bit of a longer stretch down the lane will allow for horses to be just off the pace. Typically on a small 5/8th bull ring, if you’re on the lead at the head of the stretch you’re on the lead at the wire as well, but here, just because you’re on the lead turning for home, doesn’t
guarantee you’re the winner.”
That theory was reinforced by the running of the last
race on July 8. Justin Stein, whose smart riding skills were honed at much smaller tracks out west, rallied Mid Knight Zoom from last in the field of twelve to a rambunctious three-length win in the very first race ever conducted at Woodbine at the distance of 7 1/2 furlongs, suggesting that any horse capable of generating momentum will have a chance on the inner track.
Kretschmer is optimistic that Woodbine’s new track will be completed before the end of August, ideally by the 21st.
“We‚ve excavated about 18000 tons of material to take the track down to the sub-grade,” he says, “Then we start putting in a tile drain system every 30 feet around the track. We’ll also be putting in a curb on the side rail to hold the material in place. Then we start installing two layers of stone to help the drainage, on top of that is a layer of porous asphalt and when that gets done, seven inches of the Polytrack gets put on top.”
Martin Collins appreciates that his Polytrack will meet its stiffest challenge in Toronto because of the wide range of weather conditions that visit Woodbine.
“We manufacture our surface to suit the climate,” he says, “If we can get Woodbine right, the rest of them will be easier.”
One critical area will be the wax, which will bind the mixture together and, says Collins, that mixture has to be just right,
“The other key factor is getting the percentage of fibres and the right amount of rubber and the right amount of plastic to sand ratio, because that makes a big impact on how the drainage will work.”
If the new track performs as expected, the benefits will be many and horseplayers will notice immediately.
“With a surface like this, you can ride a tactical race,” says Collins, “You can hold a horse behind and not get splashed with
mud or dirt. The kickback is very soft, very flaky. It does- n’t hurt the horse and so the horses will gallop through. It’s going to create a fairer racetrack.”
Kretschmer identified one of many financial concerns that make Polytrack attractive.
“On a yearly basis, Woodbine pours about 15 million gallons of water on the dirt track,” he says, “At $6 a thou- sand gallons that’s a yearly expense of about $100,000 that is no longer necessary.”
Another obvious advantage was illustrated just four days after racing resumed on the inner dirt track. Heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday made the track impossible to run on and Wednesday night races were cancelled. Races called off means less wagering, which compromises company finances.
Once Polytrack is installed, track conditions will never lead to a cancelled card again. Unfortunately, Polytrack can’t do anything about the wind.
The bottom line, however, is that Woodbine has taken some bold and innovative steps and that management was guided by one overriding principal.
“The single most important factor is the health and welfare of the horse,” emphasized Willmot.
The pre-mixed Polytrack “dirt” is sitting ready to be applied to base.
Photo - Peter Gross
Beth Hancock, Agent
519-927-5243 • mobile 905-586-5243
CTHS Select Yearlings at Woodbine, September 5, 2006
Hip No. 9: One Way Love - Apache Signal Filly
By Champion Older Male, One Way Love, sire of stakes placed In It For The Money. Out of a 1/2 sister to Stakes winners Love a Ruckus and Nithi.
Hip No. 22: Randy Regent - Bell’s Gold Filly
Sire is a Multiple SW with earnings of more than $434,000.
Out of a 1/2 sister to Millionaire Mysterious Affair.
Hip No. 38: Bold n’ Flashy - Cherokee Treasure Filly
Sire of Multiple Stakes Winner Bold n Fancy with earnings of more than $252,000
Full sister to Hydethetreasure, winner at 2
Hip No. 54: Chief Seattle - De Sister Filly
Sire of 2006 Prince of Wales Winner Shillelagh Slew with earnings of $404,000
and Gr.2 Stakes Winner Seafree (La Canada S.)
Hip No. 78: Alphabet Soup - Fresh Believer Colt
Sire of 9 Graded Stakes Winners & 29 Stakes Winners including Our New Recruit with earnings of more than $1.4 million. Out of 1/2 sister to Aircool, winner of $715,000 Hip No. 97: Yankee Victor - Jenepher Colt
By 2005 leading 2-year-old sire, with eight Stake horses including Graded SW
Real Dandy & Northern Soldier. Out of 1/2 sister to Stakes producing Funistrada.
Hip No. 194: Greenwood Lake - Smart Zone Colt ByGreenwoodLake,winneroftheGr.1ChampagneSt.at1-1/16mile. Firstcropsire of68%Winners&14%StakesWinners. Outof1/2sistertoGradedSPCherryFlambe. Hip No. 226: Whiskey Wisdom - Wookin Good Colt
Sire of Graded SW Just In Case Jimmy, and 12 other Stakes Winners.
Out of SW dam of $118,000.
CTHS Preferred Yearlings at Woodbine, September 9, 2006
Hip No. 347: Cat’s at Home - I’m Back With Bill Colt
SireofClarendonStakesWinner,SpreadtheNews. Fromthefamilyof Wilderness Song & Sound the Fanfare.
Hip No. 388: The Fed - Naskranomical
Sireisbred3X3toRibot. DamisfromfamilyofGradedSWShinyKey.
~ Your Inspection is Welcome ~
TM
An old friend, now with a Twist
Serenity
A refreshing new class of equine supplement
Now Available as a Liquid
Available in 1L & 4L sizes
SerenityTM is a fast absorbing calming aid designed to help your horse cope with stressful situations.
And don’t forget...“shaken, not stirred”
Herbs for Horses is committed to giving you well researched
and effective options in equine health care.
Will Not Test
1 888 423 7777
www.horseherbs.com
When Experience Counts!