Welcome To Tapeta™ Footings
★ TAPETA AT PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS 2011 ★
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★ SAFEST IN THE USA ★
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★ Thoroughbred Times Tapeta Park Article ★
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★ TAPETA AT PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS 2010 ★
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★ TAPETA SUCCESS IN 2010 ★
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A Glorious Finish at the Dubai World Cup
Tapeta Footings introduces
★ TAPETA THERMO-TRACK ★
When sprayed pre-winter, Tapeta Thermo- Track is proven to prevent freezing of most synthetic surfaces down to 0F or -17C.
No track is 100% all weather, preventing fog, 3 feet of snow and severe arctic-like winds are beyond their capabilities.
First of all, snow must be blown or bladed off the track and then Tapeta Thermo-Track will do the rest!
Tapeta Thermo- Track is now being manufactured in the USA and UK and comes with a conditional guarantee.
No track is 100% all weather, preventing fog, 3 feet of snow and severe arctic-like winds are beyond their capabilities.
First of all, snow must be blown or bladed off the track and then Tapeta Thermo-Track will do the rest!
Tapeta Thermo- Track is now being manufactured in the USA and UK and comes with a conditional guarantee.
Michael Dickinson inspects the Tapeta™ track at Meydan.★ A TRIBUTE TO JAVIER BARAJAS ★
Everyone at Tapeta really enjoyed working with Javier and his trusted Indian commander, Inderjit Singh. We had trainers from over 20 countries worldwide and 27 jockeys who have won 78 riding titles between them, racing and training on the Tapeta. They were all full of praise for the surface.
From the cold mornings to 106 degrees fahrenheit on World Cup night, Javier always delivered the same perfect track, whatever the weather. The horsemen expected, deserved and received a perfect track, day in and day out.
The Tapeta surface always needs a good track superintendent and we were lucky to have one of the best. Javier is very knowledgeable and an unbelievably hard worker (7am-9pm) and above all a perfect gentleman. We wish to thank him very much.
★ DUBAI WORLD CUP - PRESS COMMENTS ★
5 of the 7 winners on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan were trained on Tapeta, including the first three finishers in the Dubai World Cup who trained exclusively on Tapeta for several months.
Of the $26 million in purse money offered that night, owners of horses prepared on Tapeta collected over $17.5 million.
Mike de Kock on Dubairacenight.com
As for the surface, De Kock proclaimed it “a revelation, a perfect surface for racing and training, kind to horses and suits front-runners and backmarkers equally well…I believe it a massively important development with great future benefits for world racing.”
Luca Cumani- to Howard Wright- Racing Post
“All the horses have remained sound and those who have run have shown their form. By and large, Tapeta is better and safer than other artificial surfaces. It has more spring and horses can use themselves better. It is an excellent surface and innovation. It requires the right amount of maintenance and someone like Michael Dickinson, a perfectionist, to make sure it is kept at the level that is required.”
At the finish of the 2010 Dubai World Cup, there were 10 horses separated by 3 lengths which demonstrates that nearly all horses can handle the surface and perform to their best.
Steve Haskin (Blood-Horse)
Kinsale King, winner of the six-furlong Golden Shaheen, had trained on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate Fields earlier in the year. The first three finishers of the UAE Derby (UAE-II) all had raced at least twice on Meydan’s Tapeta surface this year, and, of course, the first three finishers of the Dubai World Cup had been racing on Tapeta all year and that is a ringing endorsement for Tapeta.
Nick Kling (The Troy Record)
“The Tapeta at Meydan appears to be the best version yet of the manufactured surfaces. It could prove to be strong competition for elite dirt venues such as Saratoga.”
Leading trainer in Japan, Yoshito Yahagi
“The all-weather track is exactly as I expected, and I think my horse, GLORIOUS NOAH will enjoy the surface, so there is no concern about the track.”
He was satisfied with his charge's work, saying the colt’s movement had looked good for the entire duration of his work, which is not always the case.
“His work today went well. He was concentrated and moving well. Sometimes after a blowout, his gait becomes a bit irregular but not this time.”
Jeff Scott ( The Saratogian)
As for Meydan and it's synthetic Tapeta racing surface it was hard to find anyone who had anything negative to say. A closer look at this year’s Dubai results, however, shows that most of the races on Tapeta ran close to form. The top three finishers in both the UAE Derby and Golden Shaheen were among the first four or five choices on the Daily Racing Form’s morning line.
Pat Cummings (DubaiRaceNight.com)
The Dubai World Cup produced a fabulous finish, with ten horses separated by less than three lengths, and winners came from all areas of the course. This surface plays so true. Dickinson was out all week in the morning talking to jockeys about the surface, all of whom seemed unbelievably positive.
Richard Dunwoody (Sporting Life)
The Tapeta artificial surface, designed by former leading jumps trainer Michael Dickinson, is light years ahead of most synthetic tracks.
Michael, who gave up training to concentrate on his Tapeta Footings company, will hopefully receive a few more orders in the next few years. Arena Leisure, which operates Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton, could be among the first customers for the new surface in Britain.
"We have had discussions with Michael Dickinson about the possibility installing a Tapeta surface the next time we renew it," said Kate Hills, Arena's head of PR.
"Tapeta is a strong possibility, because it has obviously been well received and I know they are very pleased with it at Meydan."
Vastly experienced American jockey KENT DESORMEAUX is among those who have been fulsome their praise for the new surface.
Brian Murphy (Canadian Press)
Many of the jockeys and trainers have had just a few days to get familiar with the Meydan Racecourse's Tapeta surface, which replaces the dirt at the now-razed Nad al Sheba track. The initial responses have been generally upbeat.
MICK KINANE, who retired last year after a 35-year jockey career that included a Belmont Stakes victory said “The Meydan track showed "no real bias" toward either dirt or turf specialists. It's a very open World Cup- the most open World Cup we've seen."
”We're very pleased with the track," said jockey AARON GRYDER, who this year will ride the Chilean-bred entry Amor De Pobre, which has recently been racing in the Gulf. "The horse wants to know that the track will react the same way with each stride. This surface has been very consistent that way."
International Jockey, TED DURCAN also added, "Most of the races on the Nad Al Sheba dirt were determined by speed, as jockeys tried to get away from the kickback. Things are very different at Meydan. There's no kickback and you can ride a proper race. It's more competitive, but horses are winning from everywhere - low draw or high draw, held up or making the running. There's no bias."
★ INTERNATIONAL JOCKEYS AT MEYDAN ★
"The Tapeta track at Meydan is phenomenal. The Tapeta track is the best synthetic surface I have ridden on. On it, all things are possible. Horses can go wire to wire and they can come from behind because there is no kickback and it keeps the horses happy."
Kent Desormeaux
"I like the surface. Easy for both jockey and horse, no kickback, good cushion and grip.
I would like to take a Tapeta back to Japan"
Japanese Jockey, Norihiro Yokoyama
"I like the track very much- it is very horse friendly."
Christophe Lemaire, leading French jockey and winner of the Japan Cup, Prix du Jockey-Club
"It is an excellent surface and I was very impressed. Obviously,
I am very familiar with synthetic surfaces as we have four in California, one of which is Tapeta and that was always my favourite.
"However, that is quite old and this one at Meydan is much improved and you can tell they have done a lot of work on the composition of the surface. The horses really were able to handle the surface which was firm enough for them to be able to get purchase, but kind enough on the legs with a nice 'bounce' – a bit like a carpet.
"The whole place is amazing and it was great to be part of it having also won that last World Cup at Nad Al Sheba."
Aaron Gryder, who won the final Dubai World Cup at Nad al Sheba on Well Armed
FULL FIELDS
Almost every race held at Meydan so far have had maximum fields of 14 runners. It is still possible to win in wire to wire fashion with
the right horse.
CONSISTENCY
The first 2 nights of racing at Meydan, the track was riding a little slow but it was safe. Since that time, Tapeta Footings promised the trainers and jockeys a consistent track. Every morning the same and every evening the same, whatever the weather.
Tapeta Footings President,
Michael W Dickinson
“STAR CROWNED should be the poster boy for Tapeta at Meydan. He has run 6 times in 6 weeks and he was very consistent and his last 2 races were his best.”
Dick Powell, BRISNET
"Having followed the Dubai Carnivals closely over the years, I noticed how difficult it was for horses to follow up a good run on the dirt track with another decent performance the next week. With the new Tapeta surface that has all changed. Quite a number of horses have come back within seven days and run right up to form a second time. The 'bounce factor' appears to be greatly reduced."
Geir Stabell, Editor GLOBEFORM
The Tapeta Track appears to have ridden well at Meydan. Races have been won in front and from off the pace and the draw statistics favor no one. During the 6 meetings so far, winners have come from a low single figure and the highest possible double figure draws. Ability seems to be the one deciding factor in the huge majority of the Thoroughbred races staged to date.
Howard Wright,
Associate Editor of the Racing Post
The best horse wins whether is inside or out, front or back. Strictly no bias. Given the right horse, there is no reason why a jockey could not go wire to wire.
Walter Glynn of Raceform
I can make money betting on Tapeta at Meydan. There is no bias. All the bettors are playing on a level playing field. The form stands up really well. Invariably the pace is sound. Very formful.
Richard Young, Professional Gambler
“For the entire Carnival:
- 21 winners were forwardly placed
- 12 came from mid pack
- 19 were closers
An overwhelming bias favoring closers? I think not.”
Pat Cummings, DubaiRaceNight.com
Tapeta approved in the UK by the British Horseracing Authority
The British Horseracing Authority has announced that Tapeta, the racing surface used for the new Meydan racecourse which opened in Dubai last month, has now been approved for use in Britain. Arena Leisure, which operates Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton, could be the first customer for the new surface. "The next time we are looking at renewing any of our surface, we would seriously consider the Tapeta option," Kate Hills, Arena's head of PR, said.
The British Horseracing Authority has announced that Tapeta, the racing surface used for the new Meydan racecourse which opened in Dubai last month, has now been approved for use in Britain. Arena Leisure, which operates Lingfield, Southwell and Wolverhampton, could be the first customer for the new surface. "The next time we are looking at renewing any of our surface, we would seriously consider the Tapeta option," Kate Hills, Arena's head of PR, said.
Recent News:
Tapeta Success in 2009 »
Household Cavalry perform on Tapeta in Abu Dhabi »
Designed by trainer Michael Dickinson, Tapeta™ Footings represents the culmination of a life-long pursuit to create the perfect surface for equine athletes. Tapeta™ (Latin for "carpet") is specially designed first and foremost to protect the horse's well-being, providing a cushion that protects the legs and feet of horses in training from the injuries common on industry-standard dirt surfaces. The patented wax-coated mixture of sand, rubber and fiber is impervious to weather and never turns to mud, and is the only system on the market today that has been tested over time to hold up under varied and severe weather conditions.
First unveiled in 1998, the surface drew immediate acclaim when Tapeta™-trained Cetewayo won the Grade-1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and Da Hoss won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
This revolutionary surface has been used at Tapeta Farm in North East, Maryland for the past eight years, and has been manufactured since 2005 for use on Thoroughbred racetracks and training tracks around the world. Requiring very little maintenance, Tapeta™ is the perfect surface for any training/schooling venue either indoors or out, and lends itself to any equine discipline. Our exhaustive research and testing has provided one of the safest, most reliable surfaces for horse and rider on today's market.
Tapeta Success in 2009 »
Household Cavalry perform on Tapeta in Abu Dhabi »
Designed by trainer Michael Dickinson, Tapeta™ Footings represents the culmination of a life-long pursuit to create the perfect surface for equine athletes. Tapeta™ (Latin for "carpet") is specially designed first and foremost to protect the horse's well-being, providing a cushion that protects the legs and feet of horses in training from the injuries common on industry-standard dirt surfaces. The patented wax-coated mixture of sand, rubber and fiber is impervious to weather and never turns to mud, and is the only system on the market today that has been tested over time to hold up under varied and severe weather conditions.
First unveiled in 1998, the surface drew immediate acclaim when Tapeta™-trained Cetewayo won the Grade-1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and Da Hoss won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.
This revolutionary surface has been used at Tapeta Farm in North East, Maryland for the past eight years, and has been manufactured since 2005 for use on Thoroughbred racetracks and training tracks around the world. Requiring very little maintenance, Tapeta™ is the perfect surface for any training/schooling venue either indoors or out, and lends itself to any equine discipline. Our exhaustive research and testing has provided one of the safest, most reliable surfaces for horse and rider on today's market.
