Santa Anita cancels racing due to racetrack problems

A thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, had to cancel racing Thursday because of heavy rainfall.

Photo: Santa Anita cancels racing due to racetrack problems

Santa Anita cancels racing due to racetrack problems

It’s the fourth time this month that Santa Anita Park postponed racing events on a synthetic track that suffers drainage problems.

Santa Anita has problems with a new synthetic surface called Cushion Track, a mixture of silica sand, synthetic fibers, elastic fiber, granulated rubber and a wax coating. The new Cushion Track opened for training on Sept 4, 2007 and hosted its first live race on Sept 26, 2007.

Santa Anita authorities wanted to replace this surface with natural dirt. But a nationwide search brought no results as it turned out impossible to find 20,000 tons of dirt in such a short time.

Now the authorities try to produce a stabilizing binder in order not to remove or displace the track.