Keeneland Releases Results of Track Review
Updated: October 12, 2015 at 9:55 pm
In the wake of three fatal breakdowns over its main track this meet, Keeneland on Monday released results of a racetrack review conducted by Dr. Mick Peterson. Peterson, a University of Maine professor and executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, worked with track officials over this past weekend to review testing and daily measuring procedures to ensure the safety of the dirt track. The review found that Keeneland’s dirt surface met all of the pre-meet test criteria and all maintenance had been performed in accordance with protocols developed for the track.
“Keeneland, along with a small group of industry leaders, has made a commitment to advancing knowledge and providing the most consistent surfaces in the industry,” Peterson said in a Keeneland release. “By participating in the maintenance tracking system to measure and monitor the surface performance, Keeneland both defines the state of the art and is helping to advance our understanding of racing surfaces. When questions arise these records allow us to review all of the maintenance and operating conditions as well as the daily surface inspections, that help to ensure that the most consistent possible surface is provided. Because the racing surface is a critical safety system, all of the maintenance must be performed in accordance with best practices in the industry.”
Peterson reviews Keeneland’s turf and dirt tracks prior to the start of each meet. His findings this weekend match findings prior to the Oct. 2 start of the Fall Meet. Peterson also monitors daily measurements taken by Keeneland officials on both racing surfaces every race day.
“The safety of our horses and riders is priority number one, and we remain confident in the performance of our racetrack,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing W.B. Rogers Beasley said. “Our team works very hard every day to carefully maintain and monitor the racetrack.”
Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason added, “We have the best people in the industry on our track crew, led by Track Superintendent Javier Barajas, who are using state-of-the-art technology in consultation with the industry’s most knowledgeable experts. The data we retrieve is part of an ongoing dialogue among major North American racetracks about surface safety and maintenance.”
Thomason continued, “The status quo is unacceptable to Keeneland when it comes to safety and other issues critically important to the future of our industry. We want everything we do here to be shared with the industry in an effort to benefit racing as a whole.”