From trainer Philip Antonacci:
In the year 2024, the words “OFF,” “YIELDING,” “SOFT,” “GOOD,” and “FIRM” are unacceptable characterizations of turf conditions; a surface much more complicated and living than a mere word. How Firm? How soft?
On Saturday, I tweeted about the need for the American industry to learn from established practices worldwide. We need to adopt a more consistent measurement of turf conditions, a system that has already been successfully implemented in other parts of the world.
Turf moisture measurements and “numerical ratings” are not new. Europe uses Turf Trax to give the going conditions quantitatively on various parts of the racetrack. Australia uses a 1-10 rating system to quantify how much “give” a racetrack has. America has qualitatively relied on rating courses. It is time to put a number on it. Once enough data is collected about “ratings,” it would benefit the industry to establish a “par rating” across the country in which races will remain on the grass or pulled off. This will significantly increase consistency, transparency, and expectations of whether it is safe to race, holding racetracks and industry participants accountable.
Horseplayers will have more accurate data to see which horses performed on racetracks with various moisture levels. Owners and trainers will be able to make better judgments on the placement of their horses. Racetracks and turf superintendents no longer have to be the “bad guys,” as you cannot argue with a number. We do not have to reinvent the wheel; copy what works. We are entering a dangerous territory where any rain is becoming grounds for off the turf, which is unfair to horseplayers, owners, trainers, and even turf superintendents. Data is the way forward, and we must collect and apply it to make more informed decisions; we owe it to everyone.
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