Opening Day Haw Entries

[faster horses]

Did they do any upgrade or serious work on the track surface?I thought that was going to be done when they closed for training that short period in January.

Apparently, they laid asphalt, judging from some of the times.

[Scav]

Apparently, they laid asphalt, judging from some of the times.

You know what is weird, I was down there this morning, and when it was all chewed up, like about 30 minutes before the break, it looked like a beach. Really loose and puffy, but then right after the break, it looked pretty good. The issue is that the top couple inches is dry and sandy where the base is still frozen.

[honest & balanced terry]

You know what is weird, I was down there this morning, and when it was all chewed up, like about 30 minutes before the break, it looked like a beach. Really loose and puffy, but then right after the break, it looked pretty good. The issue is that the top couple inches is dry and sandy where the base is still frozen.

If you read Marcus opening day piece about how wet and sloppy the track was on Tueaday, and then think about how cold it has been since then, it really isn't surprising at all.

http://www.drf.com/news/hawthorne-return-normal-would-be-welcome

[faster horses]

I'm happy not to have any horses training there now (after having been stuck there through most of the winter).

[brivolta]

You know what is weird, I was down there this morning, and when it was all chewed up, like about 30 minutes before the break, it looked like a beach. Really loose and puffy, but then right after the break, it looked pretty good. The issue is that the top couple inches is dry and sandy where the base is still frozen.

This is exactly the issue.

[honest & balanced terry]

This is exactly the issue.

In past years when it was frozen underneath and they dragged deep to break it up it created ice clods that would fly around during races and put out eyes.

[brivolta]

In past years when it was frozen underneath and they dragged deep to break it up it created ice clods that would fly around during races and put out eyes.

That's what the jocks and trainers were saying was the drawback to dragging deep. They said it would be even more dangerous than the rock hard surface.