Harness experiment again over Keeneland's polytrack

For the second time on Wednesday Keeneland Thoroughbred racetrack in Lexington, Ky., was the scene of a harness racing experiment as a pair of races were held over the synthetic polytrack.

The first polytrack experiment was held in November 2006, and this time around the horses went a few seconds slower due to high winds. A cushion was also cut for the second mile, which went a bit slower than the first race.

Officials from Calgary, Alberta, were on hand for the two-race experiment just as they were 18 months ago as they are trying to decide if the polytrack can be used for both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds when a new track opens next year.

Gary Neafus and Lendell Coleman brought horses that had been racing at Bluegrass Downs to start in the pair of races. The first race went in 2:11 while the second mile, contested over the cut surface, went in 2:12.2.

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