Month: April 2022

Pimlico Surface Maintenance On Target To Begin April 17

The Maryland Jockey Club has confirmed that maintenance work on the dirt surface at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., will begin Easter Sunday, April 17, with plans to reopen the track for training Wednesday, April 20.

MJC Acting President and General Manager Mike Rogers said a favorable weather forecast will allow the project to proceed at the preferred time rather than the following week.

The track maintenance crew each year has examined the Pimlico surface prior to the May race meet and last year repaired the base in specific areas.

Traditionally, there is no training on Easter Sunday at Pimlico and Laurel Park. Rogers and Track Superintendent Chris Bosley earlier said the project, which entails an examination of repairs made to the Pimlico surface last spring, would take about three days.

The Pimlico spring meet begins May 8 and concludes May 31.

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Pimlico Surface Examination on Target for Apr. 17-19

The Maryland Jockey Club has confirmed that maintenance work on the dirt surface at Pimlico Race Course will begin Easter Sunday, Apr. 17, with plans to reopen the track for training Wednesday, Apr. 20.

MJC Acting President and General Manager Mike Rogers said a favorable weather forecast will allow the project to proceed at the preferred time rather than the following week. The track maintenance crew each year has examined the Pimlico surface prior to the May race meet and last year repaired the base in specific areas.

Traditionally, there is no training on Easter Sunday at Pimlico and Laurel Park. Rogers and Track Superintendent Chris Bosley earlier said the project, which entails an examination of repairs made to the Pimlico surface last spring, would take about three days.

The Pimlico spring meet begins May 8 and concludes May 31.

The post Pimlico Surface Examination on Target for Apr. 17-19 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Thoroughbred Season At Louisiana Downs Begins On Saturday, May 7

The 2022 Thoroughbred racing season at Louisiana Downs will commence on Saturday, May 7. The 84-day live racing season will run four continuous days with a post time of 3:05 pm (Central) through Tuesday, Sept. 27.

The Bossier City racetrack just completed its annual Quarter Horse meet on April 6 under new ownership. Kevin Preston, who has over 30-years of experience in the casino industry is president of Louisiana Downs and is committed to integrating the racetrack and onsite and casino into one entity.

The personable and outgoing Preston has wasted no time in learning more about horse racing. He has been very active in talking with horsemen and understanding their needs. Improvements on the backside have been made, including a new toteboard, security gate, foliage and signage. Preston is highly committed to increasing purses and maintaining the safest track surfaces.

“I respect the investment that each owner has in running a horse at Louisiana Downs,” said Preston. “Trainers work extremely hard caring and training for their horses and competitive purses and quality track surfaces are extremely important.”

Entertainment and attracting attendance are also top priorities for Preston and his team. Promotions including a New Year's Eve fireworks show, t-shirt and cap giveaways, food trucks and family-friendly activities were very well-received during the Quarter Horse meet. Several promotions are planned for opening day, which will also include the simulcast of the 148th Kentucky Derby.

“Bringing back fans to enjoy the thrill of live horse racing is important for us,” added Preston. “There is a special thrill to seeing these amazing athletes in action and cheering on the winner! Plus, it's been great to see families spending Sunday afternoons together on the track apron.”

Louisiana Downs also opened its long awaited Sports Wagering hub in the casino recently with plans to open their permanent space within the next six months. It will be a dynamic, state-of-the-art venue comprised of a live brick and mortar sportsbook fused with a sports bar and grill.

With high definition televisions, comfortable seating, and a new restaurant, sports fans will be able to watch and wager on their favorite teams. Also, coming soon are 100 new machines as well as Historical Horse Racing betting terminals.

The first condition book for May 7-29 is available on Equibase. Louisiana Cup Day, featuring six stakes for Louisiana Thoroughbreds, will be contested on Saturday, August 6 and an announcement on the return of the Super Derby will be forthcoming.

Nominations for Louisiana Cup Day will close on 23. The stakes are as follows:

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile 2 YO LA-Bred Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies 2 YO Fillies LA-Bred Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 3 YO & Up F&M, LA-Bred Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Sprint 3 YO & Up LA-Bred Six furlongs

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic 3 YO & Up LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)

$50,000 Louisiana Cup Distaff 3 YO & Up F & M LA-Bred 1 1/16 miles (T)

The 84-day meet will feature live racing on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday through Sept. 27. Post time will be 3:05 pm (Central). For details on simulcasting and special events, visit ladowns.com.

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Graded Stakes Triple Propels Flavien Prat To Jockey Of The Week Title

Flavien Prat certainly made his presence felt at Keeneland opening weekend. In fact, Prat has already jumped out to an early lead in the Keeneland jockey standings.

With three graded stakes wins, Prat was voted Jockey of the Week for April 4 through April 10 by a panel of racing experts. The award honors jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

While Prat has been the dominant rider in Southern California in recent years, he made the decision to move his tack to Keeneland for the spring meet. After Derby week at Churchill Downs, he will ride regularly in New York.

On Saturday under cold and rainy conditions, Eclipse Award Trainer Brad Cox gave Prat a leg up on Just One Time in the Grade 1 Madison. Off as the slight favorite in the field of nine fillies and mares, Just One Time settled at the back of the pack. At the top of the stretch, Prat angled Just One Time to the outside and surged past the leader Bell's the One in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:22.79 for the seven furlongs.

“I was hoping to get a good break and get myself in the race,” said Prat. “Unfortunately, she broke a bit flat-footed, so we went with Plan B, and she ran really well in the stretch.”

Riding for trainer Chad Brown, Prat was aboard Zandon in Saturday's feature, the G1 Toyota Bluegrass. Zandon raced far back in the field of 11 but on the turn, Prat started to weave his way through traffic. Approaching the sixteenth pole, Zandon blew by favorite Smile Happy and drew off to an impressive 2-1/2 length win in a final time of 1:50.35 for the 1 1/8 miles.

“He broke just OK,” said Prat. “Then I got myself covered up so I was there with nothing I could do about it. It was just a matter of finding a gap and getting a clean run down the lane.”

On Sunday, trainer Brad Cox once again gave a leg up to Prat in the G3 Beaumont Stakes on 3-year-old filly Matareya. Off as the overwhelming favorite in the field of seven, Matareya stalked the early pace. At the top of the stretch, the pair took command and drew off to an 8 ½ length victory.

“She broke really well and rated nice,” said Prat. “I was on cruise control all the way around.”

On his success opening weekend winning a total of seven races, Prat said: “To be honest, I was hoping to win a few races but it's been great.” Just really pleased with the weekend.”

Prat's statistics for the week were 21-7-2-4 with $1,368,380 in total purse earnings.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Tyler Gaffalione with two graded stakes at Keeneland, Irad Ortiz, Jr. with three graded stakes at Keeneland, Joel Rosario who won the G2 Wood Memorial and Mike Smith with three stakes wins at Santa Anita including the G1 Santa Anita Derby.

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