All is not good with the all-weather synthetic surfaces that are being installed across North America.

Hollywood's cushion track is uneven and has developed ridges leading to cancellation of training (after a fatal breakdown) and a delay in racing on Sunday. Instead of being critical of the surface the blame is on "apparently well-intentioned but overzealous maintenance".

Woodbine inaugurated its new polytrack surface with as many  breakdowns its first six weeks as five months over their previous dirt surface. Dr. Greg Taylor, the chief veterinarian for the Ontario Racing Commission, defending the surface saying "statistically we were due".

Keeneland's polytrack, while passing safety tests, might be the most biased surface in the history of racing. The track severely hindered speed horses and inside/rail runners. Horses from post position 1 almost never won.

What is wrong with good old fashioned dirt? If it was good enough for Secretariat and Man o'War, it should be good enough for this generation.