Penn National Race Course has had a rough couple of months, culminating with a lot of bad publicity concerning the Michael Gill situation (we don't need to re-hash that here). Now it appears that the Grantville oval is having some concerns about the safety of its main track surface after two breakdowns last night in the seventh event, prompting management to cancel tonight's card.
In the seventh race last night, a one mile, 70 yard test for 3-year-olds and up, non-winners of three races lifetime, the field of six had made its way onto the backstretch when, at just about the same spot, two horses broke down in unrelated incidents. Artist Moon, a 4-year-old gelding, went down nearest the rail, apparently breaking something behind. Half Moon Beach, racing in the three-path, also broke down badly. It should be noted that it had been raining steadily, but the track condition was listed as "fast."
The announcement that Penn National had cancelled tonight's card came about noon today.
"We experienced significant rain late in the card last night and the track could not get sealed up in time," said Penn's vice president of racing Chris McErlean, to us in an e-mail. "We have some inconsistent spots that could not be rectified by this evening."
Horsemen have indicated that the track was worked on by the maintenance crew both on Sunday and Monday, with the problem surfacing yesterday.
Management's decision not to race tonight no doubt was the wisest course to take, and hopefully will prevent any further surface-related injuries to horses.
The good 'ole days at Liberty Bell Park in northeast Philadelphia
What are the qualifications to become a track superintendent? What governing body oversees the testing and supervision of the personnel who are employed on the grounds crew of any racetrack?
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