Cross-posted from the Daily Racing Form
Written by STEVE ANDERSEN
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Nov 20, 2011) — Hollywood Park canceled the final three races of its nine-race Sunday program after jockeys deemed that the Cushion Track surface, primarily areas on the backstretch, was unsafe after sustaining an estimated inch of rain.
As a result, a pick six pool of $356,005 was refunded in full after three of the six races had been run. Thursday’s eight-race program will begin with a pick six carryover of $62,888, which had carried over from Saturday into Sunday.
Wagers were refunded on the late pick four and a pick three, both of which began in the sixth race. Consolation payoffs were distributed on the daily double that began in the sixth race, worth $5.40, and the pick three that began in the fifth race ($106.70). The consolation payoff in the place pick paid $235.60.
Jockeys Martin Pedroza, Mike Smith, and Joe Talamo said there were areas on the backstretch that failed to drain sufficiently after four hours of rain. Smith said that areas near inclines used in the morning as paths for horses to travel to and from the backstretch to the barns were the areas of greatest concern.
“It wasn’t draining on the backstretch at all,” Smith said. “The same thing happened last year by the gap areas. The riders didn’t feel comfortable.” Read full report >>
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