Del Mar Adjusts Some Starting Gate, Turf Rail Positions After Surveying Turf Course

With the objective of improving the accuracy of tracking and timing data, officials at Del Mar have re-surveyed the track's turf course with a GPS system that will be in use beginning with the start of the Bing Crosby Meet Oct. 31. In August, the track acknowledged a rash of timing inconsistencies and reported that turf races would be hand timed over the last two weeks of the summer meeting.

In conjunction with Equibase and its timing partner Gmax, Del Mar has re-surveyed its seven-furlong turf oval for the different race distances run over it. The survey included both distances of the races and run-up distances from where the starting gate is positioned to the point where the timing mechanism is triggered.

Accordingly, track officials have modified several starting gate and turf rail positions. The results of the survey also helped Del Mar to correct some historic variations in how distances (measured from the finish line back) were calculated. As a result, adjustments have been made to the position of the poles on the turf course.

“The integrity of timing data is critical and we know we have to get this right,” said Del Mar's President and Chief Operating Officer Josh Rubinstein. “We believe the adjustments made as a result of the survey, while relatively minor, combined with Gmax's GPS technology, will provide for more accurate and consistent timing.”

Del Mar conducts grass racing at six different distances-five furlongs, one mile, 1 1/16 miles, 1 1/8 miles, 1 3/8 miles and 1 1/2 miles. The turf course has five rail adjustments for its races– zero, 12 feet, 18 feet, 24 feet and 30 feet. Approximately 40% of the track's races are run on its turf course. Rail adjustments and run-ups are necessary for both safety and fairness, helping to preserve the consistency of the turf course. Track officials noted that in some cases, due to the gate positions, the run-up to where the timing begins may be slightly longer than it was in the past, which could result in slightly faster times.

The Bing Crosby Meet runs through Nov. 29.