08年育馬者盃將於加州聖雅尼塔舉行
Santa Anita going synthetic
for Breeders' Cup in 2008
by Nicholas Godfrey
THE non-turf races at the Breeders' Cup will take place on a synthetic surface for the first time next year after Santa Anita was announced as host venue for 2008.
It will be the fourth time that the meeting billed, with the merest trace of hyperbole, as racing's world championships has been held atthe famously attractive track in the Los Angeles suburbs.
The three previous meetings have each produced memorable races from a European perspective, notably the demise of Dancing Brave (1986), the shock victory of Arcangues in the Classic (1993) and High Chaparral's thrilling dead-heat with Johar in the Turf (2003).
Next year, however, there will be a significant development, as Santa Anita will this summer replace its traditional dirt track with an artificial all-weather surface, in line with Californian racing directives compelling such a change at every major track in the state.
The move mirrors a trend across North American racing, as Polytrack has been installed at Del Mar, Keeneland, Turfway Park, Arlington and Woodbine, while a Cushion-Track surface is used instead of dirt at Hollywood Park.
European-based trainers are likely to welcome the news, given that their horses are much more accustomed to all-weather surfaces than the dirt surface in operation for the first 24 Breeders' Cups.
Greg Avioli, who has been named permanent Breeders' Cup president and chief executive, said: “There were absolutely no concerns in taking the Breeders' Cup to an artificial surface.”
Although Santa Anita's owners, Magna, have yet to announce which surface will be installed there, they have selected Michael Dickinson's Tapeta surface for Golden Gate Fields in northern California.
The Santa Anita oval may be relaid in time for its prestigious September meeting, run by the not-for-profitOak Tree Racing Association, who will host the 2008 Breeders' Cup on October 24-25.
Oak Tree's executive vice-president, Sherwood Chillingworth, added: “This will be a ground-breaking Breeders' Cup with an outstanding turf course, which I think the European horses will love.”
Although the three new Breeders' Cup races at this year's meeting at Monmouth Park in October have been denied Grade 1 status, Avioli suggested that yet another $1 million race could be added to the mix for 2008.
>>On The Racing Road Revisited at Santa Anita, see Wednesday's paper
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