Delaware gets makeover

The Delaware, Ohio county fair oval, the world’s fastest half-mile track, has just undergone a mighty facelift.

“We scarified the clay to a depth of four to six inches,” said track consultant Greg Coon. “This busts up the clay like broken cement. We then cut up the clay into fine pieces and grade it back together. This takes out imperfections, bumps, dips and waves. “ Coon said.

The main benefit of scarifying the track is to make it softer for the horses, more forgiving and puts added life into the surface, explained Coon. “We do this every other year at Delaware.”

Both the fastest pacing and trotting miles of all-time were recorded over Delaware’s saucer shaped half-mile track. The trotter Pine Chip set the world record of 1:54 in 1994 and Jet Laag set the pacing standard of 1:49 in 1999.orses will resume training Wednesday morning. The 2006 Delaware Grand Circuit meeting begins Sunday afternoon, September 17 and runs through Little Brown Jug day Thursday, September 21.

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