Santa Anita going back to dirt; Oak Tree forced to relocate

Santa Anita going back to dirt; Oak Tree forced to

relocate

Frank Stronach told horsemen at Del Mar on Wednesday that he plans to replace

the synthetic surface at Santa Anita with a dirt track later this year.

Forced

to install a synthetic track following a California Horse Racing Board (CHRB)

mandate in 2006, Santa Anita initially went with Cushion Track, which was

replaced by Pro-Ride due to drainage problems. The Pro-Ride has also failed to

drain properly, necessitating the cancellation of five racing days earlier this

year, and the surface is currently experiencing trouble with its base.

Oak Tree Racing Association planned on holding their 2010 meet, which runs

September 29-October 31, at Santa Anita, but the CHRB voted on Thursday to deny

the Oak Tree's application to run at the Arcadia, California, track. A site

change hasn't been formally announced yet, but Oak Tree officials are expected

to announce Hollywood Park as the new location.

Oak Tree had been held at Santa Anita for 41 years.

The CHRB still has its synthetic mandate in place, so Santa Anita will need

to file the necessary paperwork for a waiver to install a dirt track. Stronach

estimated the cost at about $5 or $6 million.