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Jet Engine Roars At Santa Anita Moisture Evaporation Used Successfully at Arcadia For Quick Dry on Course ARCADIA, Calif., May 8. — The successful developmnet of jet engine exhaust for drying out the race track under a new desert ■wind theory for moisture evaporation has aroused such .wide interest and brought forth so many inquiries from track managements throughout the country and abroad, the Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc.. has had its plant and track superintendent, Ray M. Rogers, prepare information data for TRA. It sets forth that prior to the 1957-1958 Santa Anita meeting, a J-35 Allison-built gas turbine jet engine, which once powered an Air Force plane at a cost of 0,000, was obtained. Then started the development under the director of track foreman, William L. Quiggle, and Santa Anita shop personnel on the ground. Followed were many trials and experiments that resulted in getting another jet engine last summer so that two units were used for the 1958-1959 meeting. Total cost of the units was approximately ,500 each, including developments. Costs 0 Per Hour During this past racing season, the jet engines were used for 143 hours at a cost of 0 per hour, plus the personnel. Mounted on used six-wheel-drive army 2 1-2-ton trucks, the engines are operated normally at 37 percent of power, but may be run faster if necessary. A special silencer eliminates noise problem to stables and adjacent residents. As is well known, Santa Anita follows a practice of closing the main track for training upon a threat of rain. It is rolled smooth with dual-wheeled water wagons and an 11-wheel rubber-tired roller. The sealing causes a maximum amount of the rainfall to run off the track rather than soaking into the cushion. After the rairi has stopped, there is usually some standing water on the surface of the track, and, of course, some water has penetrated the soil. Then the jet dryers are put to use, starting on the outside of the track with the exhaust of jets pointing back and inside at approximately 45 degree angle, and driven about three miles per hour. The truck mounted jets are driven around the track, as time permits, exhausting the hot wind across the surface. Although the exhaust temperature is very hot, the air tempperature coming in contact with the soil is no more than a very hot wind and is not sufficent to burn organic matter. Also, the velocity does not displace any soil particles. Light Harrow With Them Santa Anitas jet dryers have been used from 5:30 pjn. until noon the following day. It has been found that a light harrow working with them increases the drying speed. Usually about every two hours, a tanker containing standard grade white diesel fuel refills the jet engines on the track without shutting them off. Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc., feels that while its experience is limited, excellent results have been obtained from the use of the jet en-" gines. Time has been shortened by several days in getting the track back to normal condition after a rain. The new jet dryers are another of Santa Anitas own developments for improved track care. They follow the three-in-one roller harrows, the hydraulic-controlled cutting harrow, the swamp-buggy tractors with the low-pressure 42-inch x 40-inch x 10-inch rubber tires, and the magnetic-control Starting Gate, which previously were designed and built at Santa Anita to maintain the best possible race track for winter racing.
