★ Congratulations to Mark Johnston for training ★
more winners in the UK in one season than anyone
in the last 300 years!

In the early part of 2009 Mark Johnston trained on Tapeta, another synthetic surface, and the famous Middleham High Moor turf gallops. Since June, although he still had other options, he has trained almost exclusively on Tapeta.

• Mark has won 216 races (no claimers)
• Won 2 races at Royal Ascot
• Won 5 races at Glorious Goodwood

"Our new gallops are second to none and have made a major contribution to the years achievments and to the health of the team."
- Mark Johnston, Trainer

 “The Tapeta surface has proven to be a safe and reliable, and has shown outstanding durability in this climate."
- Frank Gabriel Jr., Director of Racing for Dubai Racing Club


★ Recent Media Quotes ★

"I only have one wish for Presque Isle Downs. We already have our dream come true here. We have Michael Dickinson's Tapeta race track surface at Presque Isle Downs. We visited Michael's farm in Maryland several times, and he convinced us about his race track surfaces. And, we felt there could be no better investment we could make for our members than a quality race track surface."
- Joe Santanna, President National HBPA

"Tapeta is the safest racing surface anywhere."
- Dick Powell, Brisnet

"To me, Tapeta seems superior to other synthetic track versions - which should come as no surprise, since Michael Dickinson is essentially the godfather of such surfaces and knows more about them than anyone in the world."
- Randy Moss, ESPN

"Interestingly, there have been few complaints about the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate."
- Jay Hovdey, Daily Racing Form

★ Meydan - The New Racetrack in Dubai, UAE ★

QUOTES FROM MEYDAN TRAINER QUOTES: “We put him (Asiatic Boy) through his paces on the new synthetic Tapeta track yesterday morning and he went very well. The track is a great addition to the facilities and it is just a shame that it was not ready earlier. Kevin Shea was really impressed with the Tapeta and he is a top jockey who has ridden all over the world.” - Mike de Kock, Leading trainer in South Africa and Dubai “We love the Tapeta track, the horses move well and they love it too. I cannot possibly say enough good things about Tapeta.” - David Hayes, Leading trainer in Australia “The Tapeta surface is the best thing to happen for trainers in Dubai.” - Herman Brown, Leading international trainer JOCKEY QUOTES: “I loved riding on the Tapeta track- the best synthetic I have ridden on. I thought it felt great.” - Johnny Murtagh, Leading jockey in Ireland and stable jockey to Ballydoyle and Coolmore “This is the best surface I have ever ridden on.” - Kevin Shea, Leading jockey in South Africa “It is a great surface- it was like riding on air!” - Lizze Jelfs- Exercise Rider for trainer David Hayes and regular rider for Niconero

Dubai World Cup, Nad al Sheba. March 2009
Owners of horses trained on Tapeta collected $9 million in purses of an available $21 million in ONE day. From the 41 trainers represented, only 2 of them trained exclusively on Tapeta, winning 2 EACH (4) of the 6 races.

Presque Isle Downs, Pennsylvania, USA
There were only 4 fatalities in 2008 during 6 months of racing (5677 starters) AND training.

"I have never heard one negative comment on it and I've been a racing official for 25 years.  I have never seen a surface as good as this one. We have by far one of the lowest breakdown rates in the country and everyone is pleased to be here. Virtually every stable who was here last year re-applied."
- Dave Frizzell, Racing secretary at Presque Isle Downs, PA (as reported by ESPN)

"It's low maintenance and our breakdown rate last year was the lowest in the country with only four breakdowns for 5,677 starters."
- Jon Moss, Pennsylvania HBPA (as reported by ESPN)



Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, USA
Installed a Tapeta track 3 years ago and horses trained there have amassed earnings of $53 million since 2007. In August 2009, the Graham Motion trained “Bullsbay” won the 82nd running of the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

Recent Media Quotes
"Tapeta is the safest racing surface anywhere" - Dick Powell, Brisnet
 
"To me, Tapeta seems superior to other synthetic track versions - which should come as no surprise, since Michael Dickinson is essentially the godfather of such surfaces and knows more about them than anyone in the world." - Randy Moss, ESPN
 
"Interestingly, there have been few complaints about the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate." - Jay Hovdey, Daily Racing Form
 
Mark Johnston - Yorkshire, England
Mark Johnston is the current leading trainer in the UK by number of winners.  He installed a Tapeta track last autumn and is experiencing his best season ever.  He has trained 184 winners this year (as of 9/25/09) including 2 at Royal Ascot and 5 at Glorious Goodwood with no claimers. He is well on his way to shattering the all time UK record of 188 winners.  

Quote from John Passero
 
"After dealing with dirt tracks for many years, I have recently become involved with synthetic tracks.  I absolutely love the Tapeta track which we have just installed at the famous Sagamore Farm.  The Tapeta is consistent and went down well.  It only took 5 days to install and we were breezing on it 2 days later.  The track was very lively, had lots of bounce, the horses seemed to like it and the trainer gives me the big thumbs up on a daily basis.  The maintenance is far, far less than a conventional dirt track.  It is only a matter of time before synthetic tracks replace dirt tracks."

- John Passero
- 18 years director of racing surfaces for the Maryland Jockey Club,
- 4 years track superintendent at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga
- 10 years track superintendent at Arlington Park.

The first-ever Middle Eastern performance of the British Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's 'The Musical Ride' team leads the line-up of this year's Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) which opens September 30, 2009 and runs until October 3, 2009 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

Read More...

Tapeta Footings are proud and honored to be chosen to supply the racing surface for the largest and most exciting racing project of the 21st century. We are delighted that the world class trainers who have used the Tapeta training track at Meydan since it opened in April have given it rave reviews. We are sure Meydan will set the standard for racecourses and racing surfaces that the rest of the world will endeavor to match.

The magnificent Meydan training track will open for training on Sunday March 22nd. Tapeta Footings is very proud to have been chosen to supply the surface for the track. We are confident that Tapeta will provide a seamless transition, from turf or dirt, for the horses from around the world who will begin training there.

STAKES NAME	TRACK	PURSE	HORSE
All Along (Grade III)	CNL	$200,000	Lady Digby
Ack Ack H'cap (Grade III)	HOL	$100,000	Rebellion (GB)
John W. Rooney Stakes	DEL	$75,000	Rosinka (IRE)
Sussex Stakes	DEL	$75,000	Independent George
Arlington Matron (Grade III)	AP	$150,000	Indescribable
Polly's Jet Stakes	DEL	$55,000	African Violet
Frederico Tesio Stakes	PIM	$150,000	Icabad Crane
Fort Harrod (Listed)	KEE	$100,000	Jade's Revenge
Commonwealth (Grade 2)	KEE	$400,000	Rebellion (GB)
Dahlia Stakes	LRL	$80,000	Lady Digby
Harrison E. Johnson Memorial H'cap	LRL	$80,000	Arcata
Lane's End (Grade II)	TP	$500,000	Adriano
MD Racing Media Handicap	LRL	$60,000	Cryptoquip

Tapeta™ Footings is opening a new satellite office in Dubai. This office will be managed by:

Lorraine Grigg
P.O. Box 72218
Dubai, UAE
Phone: 971.50.551.2816
Email: lg@tapeta.com

Installation has been completed at GOLDEN GATE FIELDS and opening day is November 7, 2007. The Crew will be traveling to the United Kingdom this month to begin an installation in England.



UPDATE: Opening day was a huge success!

Opening day at Presque Isle Downs was a huge success.

Michael inspects the installation of the new Tapeta™ surface at The Singapore Turf Club.