{{Short description|Race track whose surface is composed of cinders}} {{for|the multi-use path between Whitby and Scarborough in England|Cinder Track}} thumb|right|Equipment used for putting chalk lines on a cinder track.[[File:BillyMills Crossing Finish Line 1964Olympics.jpg|thumb|right|Billy Mills winning the 10,000 metres at the 1964 Summer Olympics, the last Olympics to be held on a cinder track]]
A '''cinder track''' is a type of race track, generally purposed for track and field or horse racing, whose surface is composed of cinders. For running tracks, many cinder surfaces have been replaced by all-weather synthetic surfaces, which provide greater durability and more consistent results, and are less stressful on runners, although the surface temperatures can be much hotter (up to 147 degrees Fahrenheit).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Juan |title=THE THERMAL OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT IN TRACK AND FIELD— BEST PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MINIMIZING RISKS |url=https://dxpprod.nsca.com/contentassets/f3f45ece51dd42dc835124ced9cbd490/coach-8.1.1-the-thermal-outdoor-environment-in-track-and-field-best-practices-recommendations-for-minimizing-risks.pdf |publisher=National Strength and Conditioning Association |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> The impact on performance as a result of differing track surfaces is a topic often raised when comparing athletes from different eras.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2958928 |title=cinder-track vs. all-weather track times |publisher=Letsrun.com |date= |accessdate=2011-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=577309&highlight=&sid=7e25b962b63deba5f1b344111c6687fc |title=Track & Field News • View topic - Kip Keino's 3.34.9 at altitude 1968 |publisher=Trackandfieldnews.com |accessdate=2011-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327072322/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=577309&highlight=&sid=7e25b962b63deba5f1b344111c6687fc |archive-date=2012-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Notable Usage==
Synthetic tracks emerged in the late 1960s; the 1964 Olympics were the last to use a cinder track.<ref>[http://www.olympic.org/tokyo-1964-summer-olympics Olympic.org] - Tokyo 1964 - accessed 2011-08-09</ref>
The Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University is still run annually on a cinder track.
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Playing field surfaces