Santa Anita seeks track fix

If you're as tired as I am following the Cushion Track disaster at Santa Anita Park, join the club. It reads like a bad soap opera that we just want to end.

The newest renovation schedule, unless it changes, has Santa Anita mixing polymers and fibers from the Pro-Ride company to its Cushion Track from Monday through Thursday. Hopefully, that will allow the track to drain in wet weather.

Santa Anita will not race Monday and Thursday, bringing the number of days canceled this meet to nine. If Feb. 8 is needed to finish the job, that would become cancellation No. 10.

It's ironic that Santa Anita has chosen to work with Ian Pearse, founder of Pro-Ride, to fix problems relating to Cushion Track. The Los Angeles Times reported that Cushion Track executives no longer answer phone calls or e-mails from Santa Anita executives.

Some think that Cushion Track executives are trying to wash their hands of the problem. Quite the contrary. When you're going to sue someone, or be sued, you stop giving the other side any more ammunition to use in court.

Believe me, there will be serious litigation over this.

• LAS VEGAS CHAMPIONS -- A belated tip of the cap to two Las Vegans for winning the Horseplayer World Series and the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship last weekend.

Richard Goodall bested 276 other handicappers to win the NHC at Red Rock and a record first prize of $500,000. His final score of $272.30 was $78 clear of runner-up Don Beardsworth.

Ken Hopkins also was a runaway winner in the HWS at The Orleans. His first-place check was worth $307,350. Hopkins' final tally of $2,985 far exceeded Gwyn Houston in second with $2,368.

Now we turn to the first qualifier of the year for the 2009 NHC and HWS, the Sports Haven Handicapping Challenge on Feb. 9 and 10 in New Haven, Conn. The top three finishers will qualify for the NHC and fourth and fifth place for the HWS.

• CAR WASH -- Trainer Bob Baffert had a great line describing the Cushion Track fiasco at Santa Anita. When interviewed by Steve Byk on At the Races on Sirius Satellite Radio, Baffert said: "Santa Anita's like a carwash. Every time it rains, they close."

Baffert was in Phoenix doing interviews to promote horse racing on radio row at the Super Bowl. His game prediction: Patriots 38, Giants 31.

• FLORIDA SLOTS -- Voters in Miami-Dade County approved slot machine gaming at three parimutuel facilities, including Calder Racecourse.

It'll be interesting to see, when Calder opens its slot parlor, if it outperforms Gulfstream Park. Gulfstream has recorded dismal slot returns despite a two-year head start.

Richard Eng's horse racing column is published Friday. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com.