Turfway Park carded three exhibition races on Wednesday to show off the new Polytrack surface installed at the Florence, Kentucky, track. Present for the
demonstration were members of the media, industry leaders, community
representatives and horsemen.
“What you won’t see at Turfway is a muddy or sloppy track,” track President
Robert Elliston said during a breakfast meeting held before the races.
Elliston comments were literal, considering that Equibase, the racing
industry’s official database, will only have two descriptions for the condition
of the new surface — fast or wet-fast. The Polytrack, created by Martin Collins
and first used in England, is known for creating a bias-free racing surface.
That claim was endorsed during the three exhibition races.
In the 1ST event, TOMMY PANACHE (Mercer Mill), trained by Wayne Mogge and
officially unraced, led gate to wire under jockey Jeff Johnston to finish five
furlongs in 1:03 1/5. TRUE COURSE (Distorted Humor) posted the same time for
five furlongs in the 2ND race under jockey Mathieu Adam for trainer Joe Davis.
The Reid Gross-conditioned SPEED GUN (Demaloot Demashoot) captured the 3RD
exhibition match, also at five-eighths, in 1:04 with jockey Nathan Solomon
aboard.
“Though the potential for local differences exists, Polytrack racing in the
U.S. is likely to be fast-paced and exciting, with more runners in contention in
the stretch than is typical on dirt,” British handicapper and Racing Post
journalist James Willoughby said during the breakfast meeting via phone. “There
is likely to be a crossover of runners between dirt and turf, which will provide
for more competitive races at conditions levels…It is my educated guess that
Polytrack should prove the future for U.S. racetracks.”
Collins also spoke during the meeting and Elliston reported that Equibase
closed Turfway’s previous track records and will begin keeping new records when
the Fall Meet starts on September 7.