Drainage problems affect race track
Horse
racing is expected to be back on schedule for the Santa Ynez Stakes, set for
Jan. 13, despite having been canceled at the Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles
after a weekend of heavy rains.
The
Santa Ynez race, for thoroughbred horses, is open to three-year-old fillies
that race seven furlongs on the track. The event, a Grade II race, usually
carries a purse of $150,000 and has been considered preparation for the
Kentucky Oaks competition.
Races
for Jan. 5 and 6 were canceled because the Santa Anita Park’s cushion track
surface wasn’t draining properly after three weekend storms dumped torrential
rain all along the Pacific Coast. The California Horse Racing Board could
decide to move the races to the Hollywood Park racetrack if problems at Santa
Anita cannot be resolved this week. The Hollywood Park has a similar surface on
its track but does not share Santa Anita’s drainage problems.
Other
races that could be affected by the status of the Santa Anita track include the
San Fernando and San Rafael competitions, set for Jan. 12, and the El Encino,
also for Jan. 13. The sand track at Santa Anita remains open for training.
The
new synthetic track, which has been mandated by the California Horse Racing
Board, has been a major expense for the track management, and has had ongoing
drainage problems since it was installed in 2006.
In spite of the drainage concerns, trainers said the
surface has worked well for training and that the horses seem to like the new
facade. There were over 140 horses training at Hollywood Park this week while
repairs are underway at Santa Anita.