After the horse Seriously (previously named Lararus) went down the other day, Del Mar predictably took races off the turf again. Apparently the plan is to be back on the turf next Friday, but to limit the races to higher level ALW and Stakes.

I’m going to make this short. We need to know what is different about the turf course this year that could possibly explain why there seems to be a rash of serious injuries.

I know they expanded the turf course this year in order to compete for the Breeder’s Cup, and perhaps it just hasn’t matured completely. But I don’t know, and if they’ve announced what the issue is, it hasn’t been in a way that makes it clear to the betting public. Of course, in addition to doing some maintenance on the turf course, they moved the rail out. I guess all that didn’t work.

It simply isn’t enough to take the races off the turf. We need a tangible explanation that either puts the blame on the turf course or comes up with a better explanation. When the races go back on the turf, we need an assurance that the turf course is as safe as a turf course can be.

Enough is enough. Del Mar needs to get the problem fixed and they need to be totally transparent with the betting public. There is simply no other course of action.