Arlington Park to install synthetic surface

Arlington Park will replace its conventional dirt track with a synthetic

surface prior to the beginning of its 2007 meet on May 4, track officials

announced Thursday. The reconstruction of the track will begin immediately,

although the exact type of synthetic surface has not yet been selected. Once it

is selected, the surface material will be scheduled to arrive at Arlington Park

on March 16.

"Arlington Park has always and will continue to provide the very best that

horse racing has to offer," said Arlington Park President Roy Arnold, who made

the announcement at the ESPN Zone in Chicago. "While we are

confident the track's current dirt surface is one of the best, the fact is we

lost horses last summer and that's not acceptable. If we lose one horse, it's

one too many. We have been diligently monitoring other synthetic track

installations and racing results, and now possess the knowledge necessary to

move forward with a synthetic surface to ensure that Arlington Park remains one

of the finest racing surfaces. We are investing $10 million to do this."

Synthetic racing surfaces are considered safer for both horse and rider. They

are composed of natural and man-made materials that combine to produce a more

forgiving surface compared to traditional dirt tracks.

"Whenever you change something that is widely recognized as one of the best

in the world you are taking a risk, but we have always put the health and safety

of the horses and riders at the forefront of what we do," Arnold said. "I am

confident the synthetic track will create an even better racing surface and

strengthen our leadership in the industry."