by Jeff Lowe

After considering switching back to a conventional dirt track, officials with Santa Anita Park have decided to add polymer and fiber to the existing Cushion Track surface with the hope of overcoming extreme drainage issues that forced the cancellation of three live racing dates.

By the admission of manufacturer Cushion Track Footings, the surface at Santa Anita has been a significant blunder. In creating a blend customized to withstand temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, Cushion Track Footings apparently compromised the surface's ability to drain properly, said Paul Harper, the company's technical director.

First noticed in the fall, the flaws wreaked havoc in early January, when the track took on at least seven inches of rain during a three-day period and failed to drain, forcing Santa Anita to cancel live racing January 5-7.

When racing resumed on January 10, Cushion Track Footings was essentially out of the picture while Santa Anita officials, local horsemen, and consultants from another synthetic surface manufacturer attempted to figure out how to proceed for the rest of the meet that runs through April 20.

Ian Pearse, founder of the Australian-based company that produces the Pro-Ride synthetic surface, arrived in Los Angeles on January 10 to assist Santa Anita in trying to alter the Cushion Track surface so that it drains properly.

Within 24 hours, Pearse executed preliminary tests using a polymer to bind the synthetic materials that encouraged Santa Anita enough to continue pursuing a solution with the flawed Cushion Track surface, which was originally formulated with a wax-based binder.

“The tests show that we’ve found a way to reformulate the existing Cushion Track surface,” Santa Anita President Ron Charles said. “With the addition of polymers and fiber, the surface becomes kinder, more consistent and it cushions the impact of the track on the horses. It functions properly in diverse weather conditions and reduces the amount of kickback.”

Santa Anita also looked into the possibility of acquiring conventional dirt to replace the Cushion Track surface for the remainder of the meet, but was unable to locate enough high-quality material. The third option was to continue with the Cushion Track as it is, with the strong possibility of being forced to cancel more live dates when it rained.

“We are now in the process of developing a timeline for acquiring the necessary polymer and fiber,” Charles said. “It is estimated that it will take ten to 12 days to produce the binder. The material will be mixed into the track surface without having to remove or displace the track.  It is our intent to schedule the application so as to minimize any disruption to training or racing.”

Pro-Ride, which will oversee application of the polymer binder, was one of four vendors Santa Anita originally considered for installing the synthetic surface, which adhered to a California Horse Racing Board mandate for all major racetracks in the state.

“We’ve made this choice based upon the results of scientific testing and the reaction of the horsemen to whom we’ve shown the final product,” Charles said on Tuesday. “Trainers, owners and jockeys have witnessed numerous demonstrations over the past three days and all parties have been overwhelmingly supportive. The addition of the Pro-Ride polymer and fiber effectively transforms the existing Cushion Track into the synthetic surface we wanted from the start.”

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer