Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - Jess Jackson, majority owner of Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra, indicated Wednesday that he has no interest in running his filly in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park. Santa Anita has a synthetic main track, which Jackson has no love for,

"I don't like plastic," Jackson said about all-weather surfaces during a teleconference. "I have a very strong dislike for plastic surfaces. I've seen dirt horses run on plastic, they struggle over it. Curlin did last year. I think plastic favors turf horses."

Jackson was quite definite in his lack of fondness for synthetic racing surfaces. In last year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, his Horse of the Year Curlin failed to handle the track and finished fourth.

This decision by Jackson puts a spotlight on the debate about dirt tracks versus synthetic all-weather surfaces. Rarely has a leading thoroughbred been held out of the Breeders' Cup for something other than health.

It was evident during the conference call that Jackson has no intention of reversing his decision not to run Rachel Alexandra in the Breeders' Cup, or any other all-weather track.

"I'm pretty much "anti" all of them," Jackson commented. "I saw Curlin and how he struggled. If it's a dirt horse, it's a dirt horse. Plastic favors turf horses. I've raced at Hollywood (Park), Del Mar, of course at Keeneland, all vary the normal handicapping potential of a good dirt horse, and Rachel is a good dirt horse."

One cannot argue with Jackson's decision not race on synthetic tracks. That's his viewpoint and he's sticking to it. It does show that California and the other tracks that made the change from dirt surfaces may have acted a bit too soon.

Last year there was a tremendous problem with the track at Santa Anita. Races were cancelled and a whole new surface needed to be installed after the winter meet.

"I'm hoping that we'll have some dirt tracks in California," Jackson said. "Maybe Pomona will replace Hollywood. Maybe we can get some dirt tracks up north. Alameda County might replace Bay Meadows. If we do that, I hope they stay to dirt because we do need to race in California. California racing needs its stars as well."

Not enough research has been done nor evaluation of the synthetic surfaces. They have only been in use a few years with mixed results.

"You can't predict as a handicapper or as a gambler the outcome of a race on plastic," continued Jackson. "Speed tends to drop. They tend to run more European style in a pack. And then it's a last charge to the finish line. And you see horses all finishing in a bunch, three and four and five times. You've seen it over and over again. So to me it's an artificial surface. And add to that the fact that the artificial surface has been buried at different tracks. And so you get a certain result on one track. Then you have to deal with another composition of a track. It's, man's interfering with nature.

"The real problem is where breeding horses are more prone to injury. And by building track surfaces that help protect their life, that's a (notable) human concept. But wouldn't it be better to breed horse with stamina and distance that don't break down and run them on their natural surface, which has been what they've been doing for hundreds of years."

Mr. Jackson is allowed to have his opinion, but hopefully he will have a change of heart and let Rachel Alexandra compete against Zenyatta in this year's Breeders' Cup Distaff.