Santa Anita’s problem is the track, not the weather

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Let’s be blunt about why Santa Anita has been forced to cancel racing four times in the last three weeks. It’s because the Pro-Ride synthetic track surface has a draining problem. Yes, it has rained hard, but a dirt track or synthetic track that drains properly would have been able to handle the rain.

The example is across town at Hollywood Park, where the Cushion Track has been open each day except last Saturday, when workouts had to be be suspended because of a clogged drain.

Track management understands the problem and intends to replace the Pro-Ride surface at the conclusion of the fall-winter meeting in April. Dirt is the likely surface.

So, hope for sun this weekend because there will be some terrific stakes races on Saturday at Santa Anita. And if it rains anymore, somebody had better buy a giant tarp because that’s the only way to keep racing going with a drainage system that just doesn’t work very well.

-- Eric Sondheimer