Santa Anita Explores Inclement Weather Racing on Tapeta

During an Aug. 15 meeting of the California Horse Racing Board at Del Mar, Santa Anita Park general manager Nate Newby outlined the track's desire to use its Tapeta training track during periods of inclement weather. Use of the training track would not take place during its next racing season, its Autumn Meet from Sept. 27-Oct. 27, but could be added future use, "maybe next year," Newby said. The proposal did not come before a vote by the CHRB but was provided as an update by Newby following a question from CHRB vice chair Oscar Gonzales. Commissioners pressed Newby about logistics and indicated Santa Anita should contact them for regulatory approval if they wish to proceed. The training track, located inside the turf course, has tighter turns and a smaller circumference than its other courses at just short of 6 1/2 furlongs. Its width is similar to the Tapeta course at Gulfstream Park, Newby said. It is racing grade with a new safety rail, he added. Newby said races on the synthetic training track could be run at distances of 6 1/2 furlongs, seven furlongs, 7 1/2 furlongs, and about a mile. He said the track is examining where to position the starting gate and construct gaps to move the gate into the infield during a race by cutting holes in the inner rail. "It's something we want to continue to talk to horsemen about, and we'd run some trial races and let them test it. Obviously, they've been working on it for quite a bit. We would continue to test it with gates and bigger fields to make sure everybody's comfortable before we did anything," Newby said. He suggested it could also help maintain field size after rain hits the turf course. California has the strictest inclement weather racing policy in the country, which has led to the postponement of race cards and cancellations, usually during the state's wetter winter months. Tapeta tracks drain more efficiently than turf and dirt tracks, allowing them to be used in most types of weather. In a separate action, the CHRB approved Santa Anita's license for its Autumn Meet. Chair Dr. Greg Ferraro said before the vote for that license, and those of other tracks, that tracks must agree that if racing is canceled for reasons other than inclement weather, they are not to receive simulcast proceeds as they would if they had raced. The change was made to disincentivize a track from canceling racing while still collecting profitable simulcast revenue. In other discussion before the board: The board heard from track representatives from the California Horse Power Coalition about the recently released American Horse Council economic study, which noted the large economic impact of horse racing on the state. Backstretch worker advocate Oscar de la Torre informed the board that most of the backstretch workers from Golden Gate Fields, which closed in June, have transitioned to employment at Pleasanton and other tracks in Northern California. CHRB executive director Scott Chaney reported overall wagering handle is down 6% on California racing this year, with July wagering dropping sharply. Speaking after public comments from those opposed to racing, he clarified for the board that there has been a small decrease in fatalities at Santa Anita Park and across the state this year.