Aqueduct has been the topic of heated discussion in 2015
after he death count rose alarmingly high, at a rate too quick for comfort. However,
it is not the just the deaths that have caused the uproar, but their
inexplicable nature that has the racing world worried.
The reaction is understandable, 14 deaths in the 27 racing
days, since the meet began is far too many. To be exact, that is one death
every two days, and nobody can come to a conclusion as to the cause. Some
believe it is the track and others believe it is the horses that are being run
over the track. Either way, the masses have implored then NYRA for change.
The NYRA responded to
the calls for change with four new policies, they are as follows…. Firstly, any
horse that is put on a “poor performance” list will have to work a half mile in
53 seconds or faster, in order to enter future NYRA races. In order to be put
on the list, a horse will have to be beaten by a margin of 25 lengths or more.
Secondly, race day cards, during the week, will be reduced to eight races.
Thirdly, they will raise bottom level maiden claimers from $12,500 to
$16,000….And finally, no entries will be taken by those who ran their previous
race less than 15 days before.
NYRA considers these changes an “important step toward addressing the troubling situation
at Aqueduct.” Yes, this is considered a step in the right direction, but is it
enough?
NYRA
also has also made other changes, such as breaks in the winter schedule and
workout requirements, for those coming off from extended layoffs. These
changes, coupled with the four above, could prove helpful over time, but if
they don’t? Then what comes next? The one element NYRA is has yet to address is
the track.
Aqueduct’s
inner track is a natural surface, made of soil, sand to give better drainage,
an 8’’ base made of limestone aggregate –topped by a thin half inch, thick
clay/sand/silt mix, with the top layer of the track being a sandy loam cushion,
nearly 5’’ thick.
Aqueduct
originally put in the Limestone base because of its durability. It lacks the
violent reactions of other materials, and handles freezing and thawing much
better than the clay/silt/sand mix, that is the base of Aqueduct’s main dirt
track. However, Limestone aggregate does have its weakness.
Like
any type of crushed stone, if the material is too dry, the bonds that hold the
packed molecules together, become weak and unstable. That circumstance is far
from ideal, when the base of the track needs to be as stable as possible. This
can be helped by simply watering the track to the right degree. Watering the
track, would help the limestone aggravate bond, stick, and pack together,
creating a sturdy base.
Normally,
this is not an issue for Aqueduct, as the winter normally produces several feet
of snow, which provides natural moisture for the track to soak up. This year,
that has not been the case, as there have been only a couple of inches of snow,
at the most, during this meet. Now If Aqueduct remembers correctly, there was
another spike in breakdowns during the 2011-2012 winter meet, and upon
investigation, the only similar factor between the two meets is the lack of
snow.
Meet
|
Snow Fall
During Meet
|
Equine Deaths
During Meet
|
09-10
|
51.4in
|
14
|
10-11
|
61.9in
|
17
|
11-12
|
4.5in
|
22
|
12-13
|
21.4in
|
14
|
13-14
|
57.4in
|
10
|
14-15 (in
progress)
|
1-2in
|
14 (2 months
left in meet)
|
|
|
|
The
snow fall provides the natural moisture to keep the limestone base packed
together, providing a stable base making for a safer, more stable surface for
the horses to run on. As the chart dictates, very clearly, without the proper
amount of moisture, the track becomes unstable, and hazardous to run over.
NYRA
has investigated one side of the coin, taking steps to improve safety provided
by the horsemen. Now, it is time explore other possibilities; Possibilities
that could be as simple as watering the track, to ensure the foundation of the
track stays as stable and as safe as possible.
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