Turfway adds synthetic-condition race

Turfway Park has carded a race for horses who "have not won a race on a synthetic surface," believed to be the first such restriction at any North American track since Turfway became the first track to use a synthetic surface, Polytrack, in September 2005.

Rick Leigh, racing secretary at the Florence, Ky., track, said he came up with the idea "just as a way to fill a race. I've never seen it written before. . . . We're just trying to get races to go, and this seemed like a good way to make one."

The claiming race is the second of nine Wednesday. The six-furlong race offers a purse of $8,000 for horses eligible to be claimed for $5,000. A field of eight fillies and mares was entered.