Racetrack Surfaces
Courses: Grass, Dirt, Synthetic
Grass:Not much can be said about the turf when it somes to horseracing breakdowns. Horses are able to dig into it better than the dirt and their form is different meaning more agile, light.
Churchill Downs
Dirt: Most breakdowns for horses happen on this surface. Dirt is harder for horses to run on. When a horse runs it's hoove hits the ground which will cause the foot to slide forward. Their form will change and they have to pick up their legs more.
Synthetic: Most racetracks have replaced dirt with synthetic surfaces. Statistics show there are less injuries/breakdowns and wear and tear on the horses. Also synthetic surfaces do better in certain weather conditions than the dirt.
Opinion: Dirt Vs. Synthetics