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In Dubai it is called dirt because it is a traditional dirt surface similar to the surface at Churchill Downs.
In America the Polytrack, Tapeta and Cushion Track surfaces currently in use are referred to as synthetic tracks which is a more modern term that all-weather (which doesn’t allow for certain types of weather such as fog!)
The new Meydan track will be using a synthetic surface inside the turf course but the choice of material has yet to be announced.
In the races which have been switched from turf to dirt, this evening, we’ve lost 3 Europeans (Davidoff, Alpacco and European Dream) but gained one -David Nicholls’ Fremen (Adrian Nicholls) in the 7th (Marju) who had originally been a reserve.
Ah, the magic words European Dream answer one question for me, i.e had Guesty sent any out to Dubai this winter as had been mooted for a while. Do you know if Dzesmin made the trip over as well?
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
"dirt" is however a generic term – the dirt at Churchill Downs is different to other tracks.
NOTE : Classy Lady is now a runner in the 3.55 having been scratched in error and now reinstated.
My head hurts just working out what is running.
Graysons – Dzesmin not in Dubai think Euro Dream his only one out there.
Much obliged, Richard, many thanks! It was Dzesmin, rather than European Dream, that had been earmarked as his Dubai horse for some time, so I guess the latter’s appearance in lieu hints at either a training setback or a failure to accrue a high enough rating to earn an invite (if that’s how it works) for the former.
I think I’d rate as one of few on here that wouldn’t swap with you on the plane out to Dubai next week – doubtless it’s a beautiful part of the world offering a whole new perspective on racing compared to the Western experience, but anywhere with searing heat and poisonous snakes doesn’t feature too highly on my list of places to visit!
(To that end: now would be a good time for anyone to let me know if my proposed 2008 and 2009 trips to Les Landes, L’Ancresse, Pardubicka and Somewhere In Germany (tbc) are likely to be so blighted.
)Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Get yourself down to Lyon-Parilly for those X-Country Chases that appear to feature a Derby Bank in addition to the usual stream Jeremy.
As a side note they race through a lake at Hamburg – no messing around there
Indeed they don’t Martin! One plot for this summer will be to see if I can get to a Hamburg card featuring one of their Seejagdrennen. Given that Ryanair frequently offers penny flights (all inclusive!) from Stansted (6.30am departure, 11.00pm return) to and from Hamburg, and the course there is only three or four S-Bahn stops from the city centre, all seems set fair for a day-trip neither as expensive or audacious as may first appear.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Adrian,
On the DRF website, if you look at the entries for Santa Anita, the races are shown as, for example, 7F (All Weather Track), so the term has definitely been exported.
Of course as Santa Anita have already discovered, too much of any sort of weather can defeat any surface!
AP
According to the RP Dubai pull out from Tuesday, the non-turf surface at Nad Al Sheba ‘comprises a mixture of fine dune sand, silt and clay, and three inches of cushion are harrowed up daily’.
Dandy Nichols takes out a team, but i doubt they will get a win, his horses didnt look fit enough last year and Dandys older horses do, too my mind need a race or three to hit top gear.
I think it will be a missed opportunity if Dandy doesn’t have his new recruit Something ready for Dubai. I think he’s capable of winning a decent handicap there…
three of my mates (involved with different yards) all sent me an email or text with roughly the same thing –
"we’re going to need a boat in Dubai/ it’s 2 wet out there"
thinking they were taking the piss, i just laughed and never replied (that was early yesterday morning). then imagine my surprise when i see the front page of the RP this morning.I left an email for one of them, who replied a minute ago
"oh god for the first time ever i’d rather be back in England, they know how to cope with floods"
?? funny that, i’m sure Lambourn high street was under water not very long ago, an half the country was flooded!!
imo
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