Unbanned G Polytrack Hot Today

Not everyone is celebrating the unbanning.

Veteran trainer Bob Baffert publicly criticized the decision, stating, “We’ve seen this movie before. Hot weather and synthetic wax don’t mix. Just because they changed the melting point doesn’t mean the surface won’t break down over a six-week meet.”

Additionally, the Jockeys’ Guild has requested independent testing of kickback intensity. Early reports suggest that while the surface remains firmer, the synthetic fiber content still produces stinging kickback when dry—a known hazard for horses racing from behind.

To understand the significance of the unbanning, we need to revisit 2014–2015.

Several major racing circuits observed a disturbing trend: during summer meets, the G Polytrack surface would become too soft in the afternoon heat. The wax coating, designed to bind the materials together, would begin to liquefy at the top layer. This led to:

By late 2015, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) issued a provisional ban on G Polytrack for any race meeting where the forecast high exceeded 80°F. Most tracks voluntarily removed it.

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