Santa Anita To Repair, Not Replace, Cushion Track Surface

Santa Anita Hopes To Solve Drainage Issues With Repairs To Synthetic Track

Santa Anita, "in hopes of solving an ongoing drainage problem," will repair its existing synthetic Cushion Track rather than replace it "with a sandy loam dirt surface," according to track officials cited by Larry Stewart of the L.A. TIMES.  Santa Anita President Ron Charles: "We believe we have finally solved our Cushion Track drainage problem. After exhaustive research, we feel strongly that this is the way to go." Charles said that it will take "10 to 12 days to produce the material and then ... four days to apply it." Charles added that decisions about cancelling race days "have not been made," and other options include "grass-only racing" or moving races to Hollywood Park. A source said that if it rains before the Sunshine Millions races on January 26, "which would be before the Cushion Track can be reformulated and repaired, those races might be switched to Golden Gate Fields," which is also owned by Magna Entertainment (L.A. TIMES, 1/16). Charles said that Santa Anita "could shut down for one day" on January 28 while the renovation begins. In California, Art Wilson notes January 29-30 are normally dark days for the track and "a full card of turf racing on Jan. 31 would enable workers to complete the job with minimal disruption of racing" (SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE, 1/16).