Synthetic Surfaces Gaining Traction at Major Horse Racing Tracks

Synthetic Surfaces Gaining Traction at Major Horse Racing Tracks
Horses kick up the new synthetic track surface as they race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Sept. 30, 2021. Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

Dirt flying as horses race around the track. Fans cheering as their favorite thunders down the stretch, hooves pounding toward the finish line.

That sight and sound has disappeared from some North American racetracks that have replaced traditional dirt with a synthetic surface made of wax-coated sand, fibers, and recycled rubber.