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| March 21, 2024, 3:59 a.m.
Dirt tracks were the earliest form of flat horse racing surfaces in Western society. Today, they remain the most frequently used type of track in the United States. Dirt is a more affordable option compared to artificial surfaces, and even more economical than maintaining grass.
Unlike other running and racing sports, natural surfaces like dirt allow Thoroughbreds to run faster on average than on synthetic tracks. This differs significantly from the conditions human athletes face. For sports like football and baseball, artificial surfaces such as Field Turf, Astroturf, or even asphalt are faster than grass. However, horses perform best on natural surfaces. As a result, many tracks in the United States have converted their synthetic surface tracks back to turf, or dirt.
Tracks are generally designed according to local weather conditions. Typically, dirt tracks comprise 90% sand, 4% clay, and 6% silt. In rainier regions, the sand component may be finer. However, these percentages can vary. For instance, at Lone Star Park, where races frequently occur in hot weather, the track consists of 75% sand. The rest is made up of silt and clay to help retain moisture in the track. Contrast this to Aqueduct's main dirt track that is made of a limestone screening base with a loam cushion.
Dirt tracks are designed with a high point on the outside that slopes down towards the rail where the drainage ditches are located. This slope can cause track material to drift towards the rail, potentially creating a bias until the track officials rectify the surface. To address this, crews employ a grader, equipped with a large blade, to push the material back up the slope. Their goal is to maintain a consistent depth of cushion from the inside to the outside of the track. This process, known as blading, is performed almost daily on most tracks.
A dirt track can either become dry or excessively wet. A harrow, which is pulled behind a tractor, is used to break up the dirt and create even grooves on the surface. However, it cannot be used if the track is too wet. In such a case, a float, a flat board onto which weights can be placed, can be dragged across the track to level it. But be mindful of the potential for firming under the tractor wheel. A bias might be created about four lanes out, where the tractor tire consistently compacts the dirt.
A natural dirt track offers little shock absorption. The intense impact of hooves on hard-packed earth can cause increased stress on a Thoroughbred's legs. Injuries can result if horses frequently run on a dirt track or without adequate training.
A "turf" track refers to a natural grass track, not to be mistaken with artificial turf used in other sports. Turf is the preferred flat track surface in Europe, as opposed to the dirt surfaces favored by American track owners.
One advantage of a turf track is that horses tend to slide and slip less, generally resulting in healthier horses post-race. Additionally, turf tracks prevent clods and dust from being thrown into a horse or jockey’s face by the galloping hooves, a common occurrence on dry dirt tracks.
Horses can bunch together more easily on turf tracks, leading to longer race times as the grass subtly impedes a Thoroughbred's stride. However, American turf tracks are known for their difficulty in handling rain, often resulting in delays or cancellations during heavy rainfall.
The renowned Saratoga racetrack features both an inner and an outer ("Mellon") turf track. The inner turf track is approximately 1 mile (8 furlongs) in circumference and is used for shorter races. The outer turf track, named after the Mellon family who were key benefactors to the Saratoga Race Course, measures 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs) in circumference and hosts longer races. Both tracks are known for their well-maintained grass surfaces, which offer a unique challenge for both jockeys and horses and are a major draw for spectators.
Turf tracks are typically composed of a specialized mix of grass, which can vary depending on the specific course, climate, and the type of races that the course hosts. The mix of grass is chosen for its ability to withstand the high-impact nature of horse racing, and often includes species that are known for their durability, such as Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda grass.
Beneath the layer of grass, there is a soil base. This base is usually made up of sand, silt, and clay in different proportions, depending on the specific needs of the track. The right mix is crucial for ensuring proper drainage and providing a suitable surface for the horses to run on. The soil base also includes an effective irrigation system to maintain moisture levels and prevent the track from becoming too hard or too soft.
The grass on a turf horse racing track requires meticulous care and maintenance. To begin with, regular mowing is performed to keep the grass at the optimal length for racing. This is not just for aesthetic purposes, but also to ensure the turf provides the right amount of traction for the horses' hooves.
Secondly, watering is a crucial part of maintaining the turf. The amount of water applied must be carefully regulated to ensure the turf is not too hard or soft. A track that's too hard can increase the risk of injury to the horses, while a track that's too soft can slow down the race and cause the horses to exert more energy.
Aeration is another important aspect of turf maintenance. This process involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous turf. Aeration also prevents soil compaction, ensuring the racing surface is soft enough to cushion the impact of the horses' hooves, but firm enough to provide good traction.
Fertilizers and pesticides may also be applied as needed to maintain the health of the grass. Fertilizers provide the necessary nutrients for the grass to grow thick and lush, while pesticides are used to control pests and diseases that could damage the turf.
Finally, after each race, any divots or holes caused by the horses' hooves are promptly repaired. This is done to maintain a smooth and safe racing surface, preventing any accidents that could occur from a horse tripping or slipping on an uneven surface. In conclusion, the grass on a turf horse racing track requires a comprehensive and well-planned care regimen to ensure it remains in top condition for every race.
Tracks utilize temporary rails, made of white plastic and secured into the ground by pipes, to modify the course layout. These rails can be adjusted to distribute wear and tear across various sections of the turf course, thereby allowing the grass to regenerate. Most tracks have multiple settings, dependent on the track's width. This alteration can influence race times and should be considered when handicapping. Typically, speed horses prefer rails set further out.
A scientific study conducted 12 years ago, "Comparison of ra cing fatality rates on dirt, synthetic, and turf at California racetracks," demonstrated that Thoroughbred deaths decreased by 37% after dirt tracks were converted to synthetic surfaces at four tracks in the 2000s. Synthetic surfaces have undoubtedly reduced the number of fatal injuries that horses suffer on the track.
The study gathered data from the well-known Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita racetracks. It found the fatality rate to be 3.09 fatalities per 1,000 starts on dirt and only 1.95 fatalities per 1,000 starts after conversion.
However, some trainers believe that synthetic surfaces may cause more long-term damage to Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. The study did note that synthetic surfaces can be inconsistent and challenging to maintain. While California's weather is sunny and stable, maintaining a synthetic track to increase horse safety isn't always straightforward.
There are three main types of synthetic track surfaces: Polytrack, Tapeta Footings, and Cushion Track.
Polytrack, made from sand, carpet fibers, spandex, and rubber, is a widely used surface. Tapeta footings consist of a Tapeta™ mix at the top, with a geo-textile membrane or porous blacktop underneath, and drainage layers below. In contrast, Cushion Track is relatively straightforward, comprising a blend of sand, fiber, and wax.
All three surfaces commonly use a gravel base. Polytrack is particularly effective at reducing fatigue during wet-weather races by limiting water saturation. However, synthetic track surfaces tend to wear out quickly and require expensive maintenance.
Rainy weather greatly affects horse races on dirt tracks, leading to the analysis of wet tracks becoming a science in its own right. Weather even influences breeding. Thoroughbreds that descend from racehorses known to perform well in mud are referred to as mudders. Steeplechase horses that appear careless or timid in the rain are not as eagerly put out to stud as those who can handle all conditions.
It's important to note that track conditions are highly subjective. A person walks around the track, probes the ground with a stick, and then makes a judgement on the condition. These conditions are published in past performance reports and used in handicapping analysis.
Here are some surface-condition terms used often by dirt track handicapperes:
Turf course conditions, from dry to very wet, can be categorized as firm, good, soft, yielding, or heavy. These terms are commonly used for steeplechase or flat turf tracks.
A design flaw of synthetic tracks is that they're intended to assist horses by providing more give with each stride. However, this advantage becomes irrelevant in wet conditions, as traditional dirt tracks, which turn soft and muddy, provide similar give. Additionally, synthetic tracks have been criticized for not handling rain as effectively as engineers claim.
Despite efforts to sweep material off the rails and back toward the outside slope, biases develop. A track bias in horse racing can develop due to several factors, including weather conditions, maintenance of the track, and the actual design and construction of the track. For instance, heavy rain can make one part of the track slower than the other parts. Similarly, if the track is not maintained evenly, one part of the track might be faster or slower than the other parts. Additionally, the design of the track, including the width and the curvature, can also introduce bias, favoring certain horses over others.
To assess the condition of the rails, observe the outcomes of the initial few races. If the speed horses on the rail win the first three races of the day, it may indicate that the track favors inside speed. However, this is unless the horses were already expected to win.
Below are common turf biases.
The composition of a track isn't always as crucial as the time, money, and effort invested in maintaining a consistent surface. For instance, rain profoundly affects outcomes at a local dirt track, altering conditions more severely than on big-time tracks with mud and synthetic slop.
To illustrate, the Tomlinson score ranks horses based on their wet track speeds and pedigree, identifying which are most likely to perform well on sloppy surfaces and handle traffic in the mud. However, the higher the quality of the racing surface, the less significant the comparison of Tomlinson scores becomes.
Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby and other major sweepstakes take place, exemplifies a well-maintained track. In 2017, when pre-race rains made the track wet and heavy, Irish War Cry was a 6-to-1 horse touted as a value pick to win. This colt's Tomlinson score was superior to the other 19 racehorses in Louisville.
Despite the rain, the expert mixture of clay and sand at the Derby track held up well. It transformed the wet surface into manageable clumps through which the Thoroughbreds could easily romp. As a result, Always Dreaming, not known as a champion mudder, won a fairly quick race.
Another rule is to evaluate each horse individually, avoiding reliance on a betting system, particularly one based on track surfaces. Each Thoroughbred is unique.
A popular betting system for poly tracks involves betting on turf horses to win on synthetic dirt but not on real dirt. While there may be some validity to the notion that grass specialists perform well on poly, this perspective has been overly emphasized.
The betting system has evolved to the point where it now considers lineage. Some bettors believe that turf horses and poly specialists are more likely to sire future poly winners. However, a study conducted 12 years ago found that stallions from both turf and dirt tracks had nearly equal chances of siring poly winners.
Some of the most successful poly sires include Crafty Prospector, Fit To Fight, Louis Quartorze, Presidential Order, Storm Boot, and Souvenir Copy. The Derby winner, Real Quiet, showed that some dirt champions have a harder time siring turf or poly winners. During his impressive breeding career, he only fathered one grass sweepstakes winner.