Mark Casse is one of the most successful trainers in North America.

He has handled some very talented horses; CLASSIC EMPIRE, SIR WINSTON, TEPIN, and WAR OF WILL just to name a few.

Casse is well known and respected throughout the industry, so just like (dated reference alert) EF Hutton, when Mark Casse talks people should listen.

“Horses were not bred to run on the dirt,” said the trainer. “They were bred to run on the grass, and Tapeta is as close to grass as you can get.”

What is Tapeta you ask? It is a Thoroughbred racing and training surface comprised of carefully selected mixture of the finest silica sand, and fibers that have been extensively researched and simulate the root structure of of turf.

Back in October of 2021, Gulfstream Park in South Florida became the first facility in North America to have three unique racing surfaces: dirt, turf and the Tapeta Footings synthetic track.

Casse was installed into Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2016, followed by his induction in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2021.

And what say Mark Casse about the anecdotal contention by some horsemen that, while synthetics may result in fewer fractures or fatal injuries, more soft-tissue problems develop on a synthetic track?

“That is the biggest bunch of hogwash that I’ve ever heard,” said Casse. “That’s the most ridiculous statement. I can tell you we have far more soft tissue injuries on dirt than we ever do on synthetics. That’s somebody saying things and they don’t know what they’re talking about. Whenever I hear that I just laugh.”

The $455 million dollar NYRA modernization project of Belmont Park includes the construction of a synthetic oval, which will provide the Long Island facility with its fourth racing track.