Dubai: Ever since it opened for racing in March 2009, Meydan’s Tapeta racetrack has received stacks of plaudits, largely attributable to the fact that it offers a level playing field for international horses competing in Dubai.
Long-serving Godolphin handler Saeed Bin Surour described it as a ‘great track with a good cushion and a very forgiving surface’, while legendary Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh said it was the ‘best synthetic I have ridden on’.
David Hayes, Australia’s leading trainer cited that he ‘cannot possibly say enough good things about Tapeta’ and Mike de Kock, leading trainer at the Carnival, called it a ‘great addition to Dubai racing’.
So can the track top such widespread acclaim during the 2013-2014 season?
Michael Dickinson, who patented the Tapeta surface which primarily consists of sand, rubber and fibres coated with hot wax, believes that it can.
Gulf News caught up with the man they call the ‘Godfather of synthetic surfaces’ at Meydan last Thursday to talk about a surface that has been embraced by the racing industry around the world.
Gulf News: Can you tell us a bit about the maintenance that the Tapeta underwent in preparation for the new season?
Michael Dickinson: In September we added a lot of fibre to the surface. In all we added four containers to give the track more bounce and stability. Our number one goal has always been safety and we also want a level playing field for the horses that come to Meydan from all parts of the world.
GN: How do you define a level playing field?
MD: It’s a fair surface for horses that have previously raced on different surfaces.
GN: Could you explain the purpose of these fibres, and are you satisfied with the results?
MD: The fibres we added are high-intensity, heat-resistant fibres that are resistant to weather and never change character. They are time tested and resilient. They are the result of tremendous research and development and are terrific for proving a reliable, safe surface. I’m very happy with that track’s condition at the moment. It will be better this year — the best it’s ever been.
GN: Has this process being done at other racing centres in the world?
MD: We used them in Australia at the Tapeta Park in Davenport, Tasmania, and a training track in Scotland and our training track at Presque Isle Downs, Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Pennsylvania. According to the Jockey Club statistics it has had the lowest injury rate in America out of 100 race tracks.
GN: What sort of feedback have you received from the jockeys riding at Meydan?
MD: They all like it and are very happy. They say it is the best it’s ever been. Javier [Barajas], who is the track superintendent at Meydan, does a marvelous job with the track and he knows what the jockey’s want.
GN: How fast will the surface run, it’s been known to set a few records in the past?
MD: That’s up to Javier, he can make it as fast as he wants. That’s up to him. He has a lot of experience and this year it will be even easier for him to regulate the surface.
GN: In short, what are the keys to the track?
MD: Safety, more forgiving to the horse’s legs, better stability and above all reduced kickback.
GN: Is your Tapeta track still evolving, are we likely to see modifications in the future?
MD: Our research and development programme is very active. We visit all our tracks in ten countries and are constantly getting feedback. I keep myself busy and I like to visit places that have installed Tapeta.
GN: Having trained the first five horses home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, I wanted to ask you what makes legendary jump jockey Tony McCoy so special?
MD: Extraordinary energe and resilience. Firstly, because he has to diet very hard so I don’t know where he gets the energy to ride in all those races. Secondly, he just doesn’t seem to feel pain. He takes a fall that you thought would have killed him and next moment you see him riding in the next race. Nothing can keep him away from doing what he does, and does best. Riding winners.