THE synthetic racing surface at Meydan in Dubai, installed for the opening of the racecourse in 2010, will be replaced with a traditional dirt track.

This follows a decision by the  Board of Directors of the Meydan Group. The track will be ready for the opening of the 2014-15 racing season.

Saeed H. Al Tayer, Chairman and CEO of the Meydan Group said:  “This is a decision that will be best for the future of Meydan racing and the Dubai World Cup Carnival. In the coming year we will celebrate the 20th running of the Dubai World Cup and the track will be the natural surface that proved so successful during the first 14 years of this magnificent race day.”

Michael Dickinson, the creator of the Tapeta all-weather track, issued a statement to Sportinglife, saying: “Tapeta Footings are disappointed to hear that Meydan are replacing the Tapeta track with an American dirt track. On Dubai World Cup night of 2014 the six Tapeta races were won by six different countries, it was fair, formful and above all safe.”

In the USA, Santa Anita, Keeneland and Del Mar have or will be replacing their Polytracks, reverting back to dirt.

In the UK, however, Wolverhampton and Newcastle have announced that they will be installing Polytracks this term.