The Blood-Horse web site has a good article ("Vote of Confidence for Synthetics") as Ron Mitchell reports from the University of Arizona's Symposium on Racing and Gaming. He compiles comments from a panel of track executives that are now conducting race meets on Polytrack, one of three synthetic track surfaces in use in the USA.New Blood-Horse editor Dan Liebman has a slightly more cautious editorial online, too. The magazine published a special section on synthetic surfaces this week.
Polytrack is pursuing the equestrian arena market now, as evidenced by a nice double-page spread ad in Sidelines, the Palm Beach, Florida show/polo magazine. The surface originated in England and American interests are partnered by the Keeneland Association in Kentucky.
Photos in this blog post have been enhanced; originals were courtesy of Polytrack. All the eagle-eyed farriers who read this blog will wonder about the shoe in the top photo....maybe it's a stable pony?
