Peterson Quoted in Baltimore Sun Report on Preakness Race Track Conditions
Mick Peterson, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Maine, was quoted in a Baltimore Sun article about track conditions at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore ahead of the 140th Preakness Stakes horse race. In the week leading up to the race, sun and wind drew moisture from the track, requiring that up to 70,000 gallons of water be sprayed on the track each day, according to the article. Peterson, whose research focus is horse racing track surfaces, said mud isn’t necessarily dangerous and a 1980s study showed wet tracks were safer. He said the problem is when racing surfaces become uneven and inconsistent, making it difficult for horses to see slippery places or puddles.