Troubles With Polytrack at Woodbine

Etobicoke, Ontario – Woodbine’s racing department held an open forum and approximately 150 horse people took the time to show up at the sales pavilion.

While the agenda was open, the only subject discussed was the state of Polytrack, which has become a source of concern for both management and horsemen. We know we have a serious problem,” Jamie Martin, Woodbine’s senior vice president of We’re addressing it as best we can, with maintenance procedures.”

The problem with Polytrack has been kickback, caused by a separation of the Polytrack components during a recent stretch of colder weather. Brian Jabelman, Woodbine’s director of racing surfaces, explained that the colder weather has been preventing the wax in the surface from fulfilling its function of holding the material together when the temperatures dropped. The fiber has been coming through the top,” said Jabelman. “We’re trying to break it down, mix it back into the surface. Adding water has helped.”

Ray Sabourin, president of the Jockeys Benefit Association of Canada, was one of several riders present at Friday’s meeting. It’s a high kickback,” said Sabourin. “It’s nothing like we haven’t dealt with, with the dirt – it hurts. The track’s still safe; it just doesn’t seem to be as good as everybody thought it was going to be.”

Management and horsemen agreed that the amount of traffic on the Polytrack surface has exacerbated the problem. Woodbine will attempt to ease that situation by extending the training track season by two weeks, to Nov. 26.

Another immediate result of Friday’s session has been a change of shoeing policy for Polytrack racing and training. Only flat shoes have been permitted, but, effective Saturday, Nov. 11, toe grabs up to a quarter of an inch will be allowed.

Several trainers at the meeting, including Bob Tiller and Roger Attfield, had spearheaded the move for the change in shoe policy.

Tiller and Attfield, who both have had several horses suffer injuries while training or racing on Polytrack, argued that the use of toe grabs could help some horses get a better grip on the surface and improve the safety factor.

Martin Collins, the Polytrack pioneer who oversaw the installation of the material here, is expected to be back in town early this week to assess the situation.

Woodbine purchased the Polytrack from Martin Collins Surfaces and Footings, a joint venture of Keeneland and Martin Collins International.