Sat Jan 5 19:16:29 2008

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Rain too much for Santa Anita's Cushion Track

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Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Santa Anita Park had to cancel Saturday's program due to heavy rainfall. The artificial surface, Cushion Track, has not been draining properly, causing concern for management.

"After extensive testing, which is still going on even now, the experiments indicate that the sand seems to be the area of concern," noted Paul Harper, Technical Director of Cushion Track Footings. "Over the past few weeks and following extensive efforts the drainage has improved."

Up to five inches of rain fell overnight and into Saturday morning. Among the 10 races that were cancelled Saturday were the $100,000 Santa Ysabel and the $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap.

The safety of the jockeys and horses will be the determining factor on whether Santa Anita will resume racing. The training track is remaining open for training.

"If we are unable to do that," Harper said about stabilizing the track. "we will install a new surface at the end of the meet. At Cushion Track Footings USA, we are committed to the success of the track at Santa Anita and we will do whatever is necessary to get the track working to the same high standards Cushion Track performs to at other tracks around the world."

Hollywood Park had a Cushion Track installed last year, and Harper noted that it has been well received by horsemen and the industry, and other tracks have not had drainage problems.