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Saudi Arabian Dirt Likely for Oxted

Group 1 winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) is likely for the six-furlong Riyadh Dirt Sprint instead of the 1351 Turf Sprint at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 20. A winner of the G3 Abernant S. last June, the bay gelding added the G1 July Cup at Newmarket one month later. After undergoing wind surgery, Oxted resumed with a fifth in the Oct. 17 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.

“At the moment we are favouring the dirt really because it's six furlongs,” said trainer Roger Teal, whose son Harry will accompany his stable star to Saudi Arabia, at a Saudi Cup press conference. “Obviously, it's an unknown surface for us but because it's a flat six furlongs I think that is where we are going to go. He's a good-moving horse. He likes the top of the ground and handles all sorts of ground.

“He trains on an all-weather surface every day, so I'm just hoping. The reports are very good about the dirt track in Saudi. That gives me confidence. There's not too much kickback apparently. As long as there wasn't going to be tons of kickback, I think we're going to be happy to run him on it.”

He added, “The timing of the race was good for us. It was enough time to give him a break and then prepare him for the season ahead. We can go to Saudi, come back, maybe go to Dubai for World Cup night if things go to plan. We can then prepare for Ascot and another go at the July Cup. We'll be a little bit wiser after the event. He's pretty straightforward and takes things in his stride, but you don't know until you do it. He should be fine.”

Regularly ridden by Cieren Fallon, Jr., the now 5-year-old gelding would reunite with Fallon in Saudi Arabia.

“He definitely gets on so well with the horse,” said Teal. “Hopefully when Cieren's available he can ride him whenever. This horse has got good gate speed. He travels strong. He's got early pace so I think the pace of the race will suit him fine. The pace beat us at Ascot [on Champions Day] last year. There wasn't enough pace for him.”

“Harry will go with him out there,” he added, but was non-committal on his own attendance. “You can't make any firm plans yet, but we'd like to be there if we can. He's pretty much on track. He's been stepping up weekly. We're very happy. We'll just keep tipping away with what we're doing and get him there in good shape.

“If we're allowed to I'm looking to getting him to Wolverhampton just to have one good sprint round the turn because he's never run round a bend. That's another thing we've got to find out about him. He's in good shape. He had a short break after Ascot. He had a month away and came back looking tremendous. He's really blossomed through the winter.”

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Kentucky Downs’ Turf Course Receives First Major Renovation

Kentucky Downs–whose unique all-grass meet in September offers among the highest purses in the world—recently completed the first major renovation of its turf course since the track was laid out in a field as a steeplechase course in 1990.

The project involved nearly half of the 1 5/16-mile kidney-shaped course. A swath five-eighths of a mile long and 63-feet wide around the spacious far turn and into the stretch was replaced with sod featuring a blend of 90 percent Kentucky 31 fescue and 10 percent Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky 31, named for the state and year it was discovered (in this case, in 1931 by a University of Kentucky professor), is noted for its deep roots, resilience and disease resistance — all critical with the wear and tear of turf racing.

The project was overseen by track consultant Butch Lehr, whose 30 years as track superintendent at Churchill Downs included building the Louisville track's turf course in 1985. Iron Bridge Sod Farms of nearby Bowling Green provided and installed the sod for the Kentucky Downs course.

The Iron Bridge crew killed off and dug up the existing grass in the impacted area, added new material to the soil and tilled it thoroughly to make the surface smooth and eliminate inconsistencies that can develop over the years. Soil analysis was then conducted, with the appropriate fertilizer applied before the sod was installed in strips from massive rolls.

“Obviously we face unique challenges with the Kentucky Downs course, racing exclusively on grass and with our unusual configuration and elevation variances,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' Vice President for Racing. “Over the years, Kentucky Downs made improvements to the course, but this is the most ambitious overhaul we've had. Safety is the No. 1 priority. With Kentucky Downs now having six race dates compressed into eight calendar days, we want to ensure we have a course that is of high quality and safe for horses and riders throughout the meet.

“We're thrilled with how it's turned out. We were able to put down the sod during Kentucky's amazing November weather and feel confident that the course will be spectacular for our 2021 meet. In addition, we will be installing a new rail system that will allow for four racing lanes throughout the six dates.”

Lehr said that sod, compared with the seeding previously used, will make the grass grow evenly and will mature and establish a root network more quickly, with sod also providing erosion protection and weed defense.

He emphasized that the redone portions, from the three-quarters pole to the eighth pole, blend in seamlessly with the rest of the course. The only races configured around two turns are at 1 5/16 and 1 1/2 miles. The vast majority of Kentucky Downs races are staged at a mile or shorter, involving only the far turn.

“We concentrated on the heavily-used part of the track,” Lehr said. “This track is so different than traditional tracks in the United States with its up and downhill. What we tried to do is get a uniform material underneath, then made it really smooth. We're fortunate that Iron Bridge had the ideal type of sod, which is not easy to find. I'm really feeling good about it.”

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Del Mar Modifies Several Gate, Turf Rail Positions For More Accurate Timing, Tracking

Del Mar has re-surveyed its turf course to enhance timing and tracking accuracy with a state-of-the-art GPS system that will be in use for the start of the Bing Crosby Season this Saturday.

Following its recent summer meet — in conjunction with its racing data partner Equibase and its partner GMAX, a global positioning satellite information platform — Del Mar re-surveyed its seven-eighths mile grass oval for the different race distances run on it. The survey included both the race distances and the run-up distances from where the starting gate is positioned for each race to the point where the timing mechanism is triggered.

As a result of the survey, Del Mar has modified several starting gate and turf rail positions. Additionally, the survey results helped the track correct some historic variations in how distances (back from the finish line) were calculated. As a result of the study, adjustments were made to the pole locations along the turf course.

“The integrity of timing data is critical and we know we have to get this right. We believe the adjustments made as a result of the survey, while relatively minor, combined with GMAX's GPS technology, will provide for more accurate and consistent timing,” said Del Mar's president and COO, Josh Rubinstein.

Del Mar officials noted that in some cases, due to the gate positions, the run-up to where the timing begins may be slightly longer than it was in the past, which could result in slightly faster times.

Del Mar's six turf races are run at 5 furlongs, 1-mile, 1-1/16th miles, 1-1/8th miles, 1-3/8ths miles and 1-1/2 miles. Its turf course has five rail adjustments for its races – zero, 12 feet, 18 feet, 24 feet and 30 feet. Approximately 40% of the track's races are run on its turf course. Rail adjustments and run-ups are necessary for both safety and fairness, helping to preserve the consistency of the turf course.

Del Mar's 15-day season will run through to Sunday, November 29. First post daily will be at 12:30 p.m. for all days with the exception of Thanksgiving Thursday (November 26) when there will be an early 11 a.m. post.

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Keeneland Takes Measures To Preserve Turf Course For Breeders’ Cup

With the 2½ inches of rain Keeneland received on Monday and Tuesday and because the forecast of an active weather pattern over the next 10 days has significant moisture as a possibility, Keeneland will card only one grass race for each of the final three race days of the Fall Meet.

On both Friday and Saturday, Race 9 will serve as the feature and will remain on the turf, weather permitting. Additionally, Thursday's Race 6, an allowance race, will remain on the turf.

All other turf races carded for the final three days of the Fall Meet will move to the main track.

“The turf course has performed very well and without incident during the Fall Meet, and these steps are taken to ensure we have the best possible conditions for the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 6-7,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Bob Elliston said.

Here are changes to the remaining race cards:

Thursday

Race 2 will be conducted on the main track at 1 3/16 miles.

Race 9 will be conducted on the main track at 1 1/16 miles.

Friday

Race 4 will be conducted on the main track at 1 1/16 miles.

Race 7 will be conducted on the main track at 6 furlongs.

Saturday

Race 4 will be conducted on the main track at 1 1/16 miles.

Race 7 will be conducted on the main track at 6 furlongs.

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