New racing surface meant to fix drainage problems

Saratoga Racecourse will have a refurbished main track that is expected to drain better than the old one when the meet kicks off its 40-day run Thursday.

While the New York Racing Association was installing a new safety rail at Saratoga, much like those in place at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, it also undertook the massive project of replacing an old, worn-out drainage system on the main track.

“In the past, water would back up on the inside rail where the gutter would fill up, and prior to the current design there was a berm on the inside rail that would channel the water into specific locations,” said Glen Kozak, NYRA senior vice president/facilities and racing surfaces. “So that was all removed. Now it’s just full runoff going right in between the Mellon Turf course and the dirt course.”

Kozak said that safety rail boards were put up to help eliminate channeling of any water to one specific area, which should help to eliminate washouts on certain parts of the track.

“Before my time at NYRA, there were issues where there were washouts on the track where water would come from the barn area and wash right across the track,” Kozak said. “The current design of the track, we’d have to have 10 inches of rain to be impacted by that. I think it’s going to handle the heavy rains much, much better than the old track, and also just getting the water off the track more quickly is going to be very, very beneficial.”

Kozak said that the materials put on the main track should make it very similar to the tracks at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, or as close as possible given the varying weather conditions each surface faces at the time of year those meets run.

“There’s no way that we’re going to have a summer track be what Aqueduct is in the winter time, but just that these horses have an easier transition from one location to another,” Kozak said. “The obvious thing you’ll see is with the color. On all of our tracks it’s more of an orangish color just because of the type of clay that we’re using.”

A better drainage system should make for a more even and presumably safer surface. Kozak has consulted on the project with Mick Peterson, executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory. NYRA at least once a month sends samples of the track to be evaluated by that lab.

The project was begun last fall and was completed in early June. The main track opened for training June 22, but there were no workouts over it until July 6, when Chad Brown worked eight horses.

Brown said the main track “is one of the best tracks I’ve trained on in many years.”

“I do believe that, from what I’ve seen, it drains excellent,” he said. “It reminds me a lot of when they redid the track at Keeneland, took the Polytrack out and put the new dirt track in. . . . I’ve been extremely impressed with it.”

Brown said it was essential that NYRA address the drainage issue of the track.

“I applaud Glen for doing it and Dave O’Rourke for pulling the trigger on it,” Brown said, alluding to NYRA’s CEO and president. “He’s going to have the call on that, and he stepped up in his first year to get this done when previously it wasn’t done. I’m absolutely certain NYRA will reap the rewards from this for years to come.”

On Monday, Steve Asmussen worked 10 horses over the main track, including Midnight Bisou, the reigning older female champion.

“We were very happy with how it drained after the rain and felt it was in better condition than the training track, and it was nice to see them go over it so well,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, all the reviews are very positive on the new surface. Hopefully, that will continue after racing begins.”