Deaths on dirt revive debate about merits of synthetic tracks

The new dirt track at Santa Anita can be a death trap for the horses who train and race on it, and a danger to their jockeys and exercise riders. Why the switch from the somewhat safer synthetic? Times are faster on dirt than synthetic, and it appears the chief reason leading trainer Bob Baffert…

Santa Anita fatality scorecard gives dirt surface a failing grade

Cross-posted from the Los Angeles Daily News Written by ART WILSON, Racing Columnist SANTA ANITA, Calif. (April 15, 2011) -- Santa Anita's numbers in terms of racing fatalities were looking good through the first 17 days of the 2010-11 meet. Only two horses had suffered fatal injuries, one in the morning and one during the…