Keeneland becomes latest track to switch to dirt surface
Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., has become the latest horse-racing track to announce that it is replacing its synthetic surface and returning to dirt.
The Polytrack surface will be discarded after the end of the April meeting, replaced by a dirt surface for the fall. The Polytrack was installed in 2006.
Del Mar plans to replace its Polytrack with dirt after this summer’s meeting. Santa Anita previously switched back to dirt.
The change should help Keeneland’s bid for a Breeders’ Cup. Owners have come to prefer a dirt surface.
Several tracks had switched to synthetic surfaces with the intention of improving safety for horses, but statistics have been mixed about whether those surfaces produced a major improvement in safety.
ALSO:
Report names which U.S. athletes had most drug tests in 2013
Kain Colter, Ramogi Huma try to recruit union allies in Congress
Jonny Gomes makes a patriotic fashion statement at White House
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
