When it comes to issues affecting California racing, nothing supersedes track surfaces. While panelists at the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) summit meeting Feb. 13 at Santa Anita first spoke about the failing economic model of the state’s satellite wagering system and whether racetracks should reduce their number of dates, it was the session on racetrack surfaces that everyone was waiting to hear.

Madeline Auerbach, vice chair of the TOC and the moderator of the track surfaces panel, knew she had a hot topic on her hands. She began by asking the audience of more than 100 owners, trainers, and others for a civil and respectful discussion.

"I have never seen an issue that has brought more emotion from the various sides," Auerbach said. "We should be respectful of one another."

The discussion was designed to bring information to TOC members. The track surfaces panel included Lucy Anthenill, DVM, and Francisco Uzal, DVM, PhD, of the California Animal Health & Food Safety Lab of the University of California-Davis; Rick Arthur, DVM, the California Horse Racing Board’s equine medical director; Craig Fravel, executive vice president at Del Mar racetrack; trainers John Sadler and John Shirreffs; and professional handicapper Toby Turrell