US Racing / Nick Shiambouros / 11 January 2008 /

Nick Shiambouros considers both sides of US Racing, in more ways than one, as he reports on a bad week for Californian racing on the west coast and looks at a more successful time on the east coast in Florida.

The words to the song "It never rains in Southern California" should be rewritten as due to the persistent rain at Santa Anita racing had to be abandoned for three consecutive days last weekend. In one of the most bizarre situations I have ever witnessed the Cushion Track surface could not absorb the seven inches of rain that fell on it and track superintendent Richard Tedesco had no choice but to abandon racing. The course had been plagued with drainage problems ever since the new surface was installed and now it appears as if the entire meeting could be in doubt. The new surface was installed just a few months ago in August of 2007.


Track president Ron Charles is under immense pressure to solve this huge problem very swiftly and has consulted with another synthetic surface company Pro-Ride to look at his options. In addition he has suggested that a conventional dirt surface may have to be installed as a replacement and racing could be moved across town to Hollywood Park while this takes place.
Regular readers will know that I am of the opinion that the decision to switch to artificial surfaces in California was made without taking all the factors in to account and most people in the industry are suggesting that we still do not have anywhere near the kind of data to have made such a drastic move. It is a point that is an understatement to say the least. Watch this space for further news.


No such problems over in south Florida as Gulfstream 2008 started without a hitch and we got off to a flying start when our choice Smooth Air won The Hutchinson in great style from Silver Edition with our other choice Halo Najib in third. The winner was available at a huge 11.5 on the Betfair exchange. I think this was partly due that his trainer Bennie Stutts Jr is not that well known outside Florida and that was the biggest win for him in a career spanning 40 years. I believe that the winner will stay a bit further and is one to follow next time out whatever the grade.

This Saturday at Gulfstream Park the quality racing continues and the Grade 2 The Old Hat Stakes looks to be a super race for three year old fillies. I think the one they all have to beat is Lovely Isle from the stable of Richard Dutrow..I love her latest work when she drilled five furlongs in one minute flat. This suggests that her unbeaten streak will go to three in a row and I will be looking for around 3.0 for the win but I may well have to settle for less.

Up at The Fairgrounds later on in The Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 I think Blackberry Road and Mad Flatter will fight out the finish in this wide open contest for colts. I will be looking for around 5.0 for both and I will split my stake.
Later on Saturday I really hope that racing goes ahead at Santa Anita and the weather forecast is looking good at present. The San Pasqual will be re- run so last weeks selections still apply.
In The San Rafael Grade3 earlier on the card I am hoping Massive Drama will bounce back to form in this early Kentucky Derby pointer. He did nothing wrong in The Hollywood Futurity and I will be backing him at around 4.5 for the win.

Finally I really hope that a swift resolution to the unacceptable situation in southern California is made because this has really cast a huge shadow over racing in the whole state and Santa Anita has only itself to blame for this mess. I am not sure if the track president Ron Charles will survive this but if he does I hope he will stick around to ensure the conventional dirt surface is put back on the track where it clearly belongs at this historic venue.

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