Del Mar's new racing surface ready for action

Del Mar completed installation of its dirt track earlier this week, a month before the course will be used for the first time. The new track will be used for training in advance of the Barretts sale of 2-year-olds on May 28. Del Mar’s summer race meeting runs from July 16 to Sept. 7.

Del Mar removed its Polytrack synthetic surface after the autumn meeting last November and began installation of the dirt track earlier this year. The project, which cost approximately $5 million, included the acquisition of new grading equipment and tractor harrows, according to track president Joe Harper.

Harper said on Friday that maintenance crews will spend the next several weeks mixing the material to ensure optimum conditions. Track superintendent Richard Tedesco is overseeing the project.

“It’s all in there and we’re working it,” Harper said. “We need to make it right. That shouldn’t take long because it’s the right mixture. Everyone seems pretty happy with it.”

The new track's seven-furlong chute was used as a preparation area for a horse show in the adjacent arena this weekend, Harper said.

The new dirt material, known as El Segundo sand, is similar to what is in place at Santa Anita. Tedesco and his counterpart at Santa Anita, Dennis Moore, have been in contact about maintenance techniques, Harper said.

“Rich Tedesco has a lot of confidence in it,” Harper said.

A training preview of sales horses is scheduled for May 26. Following the sale, the course will be sealed and covered in some sections during the San Diego County Fair, which is held on the racetrack property and nearby grounds from June 5 to July 5.

“We work it as much as we can and then seal it and hope for the best,” Harper said.

The track will reopen during the first full week of July for training in advance of the summer meeting.