Posted on Mon, May. 05, 2008

Death revives dirt track concerns

YET EMBRACING SYNTHETICS IS FAR FROM FINAL ANSWER

By John Clay

HERALD-LEADER SPORTS COLUMNIST

John Clay

Let's return the debate back to where it belongs.

When Polytrack was first developed, the great horse racing debate was over whether this new artificial surface was indeed less dangerous for the animal than the traditional dirt surfaces.

But with Polytrack and so-called "cushion" tracks now more numerous, the debate leading into this year's Kentucky Derby shifted to which surface was more advantageous in preparing a thoroughbred for the sport's most important race.

Saturday's tragic death of the filly Eight Belles should serve as a painful reminder that the first debate is much more important than the second, even if it's not easy to separate one from the other.

"It's a big issue," said Nick Zito, the two-time Derby winning trainer who has run 21 horses in the race, including two Saturday. "Do you understand what I'm saying? It's a big issue."

By big, Zito meant not only in terms of importance for racing as a sport and business, but "big" in terms that there is no fool-proof solution.

"You can't just go like this," said Zito, snapping his fingers.

On the other hand, Eoin Harty, the trainer of sixth-place finisher Colonel John, knew exactly where he stood on the Eight Belles tragedy.

"It makes a strong case for synthetic tracks," said Harty.

Synthetics are safer?

"There is no doubt in my mind," said the trainer.

A fourth-generation horseman from Ireland, the 45-year-old Harty trains primarily in California, a state that recently mandated that its racetracks install synthetic surfaces. In fact, all six of Colonel John's races before Saturday had come on California's synthetic surfaces.

"When we went to Del Mar or Santa Anita, what happened (to Eight Belles) was a daily occurrence," Harty said. "Since both tracks went synthetic, we don't deal with it very much anymore. Occasionally, very occasionally, people have it. But I can't remember the last time I saw the ambulance on the track at Santa Anita."

Harty said he isn't telling Churchill Downs to switch to synthetic, just that his experience tells him it's "better for the breed."

No one can question Zito's commitment to his horses, but he wonders if synthetics are indeed better for the sport. He pointed to the Derby's final finishers. Adriano, who won the Lane's End on Turfway's Polytrack, ran 19th. Monba, who won the Blue Grass on Keeneland's Polytrack, ran 20th.

In fact, none of the first five finishers in this year's Derby has ever run a race on a synthetic track.

Larry Jones, Eight Belle's trainer, hinted yesterday he may not take his Oaks-winning filly Proud Spell to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup because she has proven to be less successful on synthetics.

"I think they are (safer); I think the statistics are going to show that they are," said Jones, who repeated his belief Eight Belles' fatal injury had nothing to do with Churchill's track. "But do I think every racetrack should go to it? No."

"We're talking about the whole sport here," Zito said. "And you have to think of the positive, too. People saw history here" in Big Brown's win Saturday.

History, yes, but tragedy, too. Much like the breed, racing might not be strong enough to weather the publicity surrounding another major breakdown, especially one so close to Barbaro's Preakness injury two years ago.

Said Harty, "I don't think we're in a position where we can give ourselves any more black eyes."

He's right.

So is Zito when he says, "it's a big issue."

Big enough to return the Polytrack/dirt question to square one, where it belongs.

What's best for the safety of the horse?