In light of the Santa Anita breakdowns, a Thoroughbred People fan has suggested and ventured that “Vehicular traffic (tractor and ambulance) is highly destructive to the cushion. Horse drawn harrows and gate have great advantages.”
Watching the tractors tow the harrows between races, I have often wondered how the compression of narrow lanes of the track by a multi-ton John Deere tractor vehicle effects the track. Whether it adds to the track inconsistency or not, what a nice sight it would be for racing fans to see the harrows towed by plough horses instead.