In an article published on the North County Times
Horse Commentary page, Jeff Nahill tries to get to the bottom of over a dozen horse deaths over the Del Mar synthetic track during the Fall 2009 meet, interviewing the major players and receiving refreshingly straightforward answers.
Here's an excerpt:"The track has changed," he said. "It's not the same track we put in. It's very susceptible to weather and temperature. I'm never happy until we have the safest track we can.
"None of us are experts on Polytrack. I think that comes from experimentation.
"We need to test to see if the fiber is gone or has the wax drifted down due to gravity.
"I guarantee something will be done."
Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm and Colonel John, loved Del Mar's track in 2007.
"The first year it was slow but safe," Casner said. "It was pretty good last year. This year it sounds like a herd of buffalo down there on the track."
Harper thinks that is a fair assessment.
North County Times addresses Del Mar Surface
"The track has changed," he said. "It's not the same track we put in. It's very susceptible to weather and temperature. I'm never happy until we have the safest track we can.
"None of us are experts on Polytrack. I think that comes from experimentation.
"We need to test to see if the fiber is gone or has the wax drifted down due to gravity.
"I guarantee something will be done."
Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm and Colonel John, loved Del Mar's track in 2007.
"The first year it was slow but safe," Casner said. "It was pretty good last year. This year it sounds like a herd of buffalo down there on the track."
Harper thinks that is a fair assessment.