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Up To 250 Spectators To Be Permitted On-Site At Laurel Park Beginning Thursday

Following the successful reintroduction of live racing to its racetracks, and given the green light by state and county officials, the Maryland Jockey Club will reopen to the public on a limited basis starting with the Thursday, Oct. 15, program at Laurel Park.

The move comes following approval from Anne Arundel County, where Laurel Park is located, and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's revised executive order issued Sept. 28 allowing up to 250 spectators at state racetracks. Laurel Park opened its calendar year-ending fall meet Oct. 8, five days after the conclusion of the six-day Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course.

Laurel Park was nearing the end of its winter meet when it was closed to the public March 12 due to health concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic. Starting March 15, live racing was paused in Maryland for 2 1/2 months before returning to Laurel May 30.

Racing has been conducted without spectators following its return at both Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, though owners with participating horses have been permitted to watch them perform from the track apron since June 6.

The 250 persons allowed in the executive order are in addition to owners and other licensed personnel that have been granted access since late May in order to conduct live racing. Post time for Thursday's eight-race program at Laurel is 12:40 p.m.

Owners, patrons and employees will be granted entry through Laurel's grandstand entrance after having their temperature screened with a thermal camera. The horsemen's entrance adjacent to the historic paddock will only be staffed on live race days beginning at 8 a.m. for authorized personnel only.

Facial coverings and proper social distancing are required for all persons and will be strictly enforced. Physical barriers have been installed where personal interaction is necessary, and increased disinfection and sanitization of common areas will be in place. Laurel's simulcast room will be at 50-percent capacity.

While remaining dark on Mondays and Tuesdays, Laurel Park will be open for simulcasting on Wednesdays as well as live racing Thursday through Sunday in October and November. The first-floor grandstand concession area will operate from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on those days, with the second-floor grandstand sports book bar open Friday through Sunday.

Laurel's first-floor clubhouse, currently being used to accommodate jockeys and valets, will remain closed to the public.

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Maryland Jockey Club Announces Re-Opening Protocols For Patrons At Laurel Park

Laurel Park will reopen Thursday, Oct. 15, to a limited number of patrons after having received the go-ahead from Anne Arundel County government.

The county's approval came after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a revised executive order allowing racetracks to accommodate up to 250 “spectators,” a number that doesn't include the licensed personnel who have had access in order to conduct live racing programs or licensed owners. Laurel Park reopened for racing May 30 after a two-and-a-half-month shutdown because of COVID-19 restrictions, and soon after permitted licensed owners to view races from the apron.

In a letter to the Anne Arundel County Health Department, MJC President Sal Sinatra noted that Laurel and Pimlico Race Course have conducted live racing “under strict protocols to ensure the safety of all participants in racing—jockeys, stewards, owners, trainers, horsemen, backstretch workers, support staff and others” with success. The MJC also submitted a list of protocols for the return of patrons to Laurel.

The grandstand entrance at Laurel Park, which is equipped with a thermal camera for temperature screening, will be the primary entrance for employees, patrons and owners each day. The Horsemen's entrance near the Racing Office and paddock will be staffed only on live racing days beginning at 8 a.m. for trainers, jockeys and backstretch personnel that require access.

Food and beverage service will offered in the concession area in the food court in the first-floor grandstand from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. subject to discretion of management. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the SportsBook Bar on the second floor of the grandstand will be open with the option to purchase food and beverage prepared in the food court.

Laurel Park will be open five days a week, with Mondays and Tuesdays dark for simulcasting until otherwise noted. Racing is currently held four days a week on a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule. Simulcasting will be available on Wednesdays in the grandstand Silks simulcast area.

Facial coverings will be required for all guests and employees. Furniture will be rearranged to accommodate social distancing, and physical barriers have been installed where person-to-person interactions will occur. There will be increased sanitization measures and disinfection of all commonly-touched areas such as self-service betting machines.

The first floor of the clubhouse will continue to be used to accommodate jockeys and valets and will not be open to the public.

The information window in the Silks simulcast area in the grandstand will be open Thursday through Sunday. On Wednesdays, check-cashing will be handled through the Guest Services booth in the Silks simulcast area.

The following is information specific to owners and trainers:

Owners will be allowed access to the apron from the clubhouse fence line to the apron tent, which will be exclusive to owners.
Owners will be allowed to watch from the paddock area but will not have access to inside the paddock.
Owners on the grandstand side who wish to visit the paddock area must leave the building through the grandstand exit and walk or drive to the Horsemen's paddock entrance near the Racing Office. They can return to the grandstand through the primary grandstand entrance only. The walkway along the racing surface from the paddock to winner's circle will not be available to owners.
Winners' photos will continue to be taken on the racetrack.
Trainers who enter the grandstand and need to travel to the paddock for saddling must exit the building via the grandstand entrance and walk or drive to the paddock, and return to the building through the grandstand entrance. The walkway along the racetrack will not be accessible.
Owners and trainers will have limited access to the horsemen's boxes on the second floor and can access the area via the clubhouse staircase closest to the grandstand simulcast area. The pathway will be partitioned with privacy curtains.
The valet parking lot will be reserved for horsemen only live racing days. Horsemen overflow parking will be available in the adjacent lot generally used for paid parking.

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Keefe: Maryland Racing Able To Maintain Purse Structure, Relax Some Backstretch Restrictions

Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association president Tim Keefe sent out the following letter to Maryland horsemen on Thursday:

Dear Horsemen,

As we get back into the swing of things with the return of live racing in Maryland after a two-and-a-half-month absence, the MTHA would like to sincerely thank the entire racing community for its patience and commitment under extremely difficult economic circumstances.

Please be confident, MTHA is working to ensure that Maryland-based owners and trainers have as many racing opportunities as possible while being mindful of the need to stretch purse funds as far as possible while revenue sources such as casino gaming, off-track betting and on-track betting are gradually restored.

After crunching our numbers with Maryland Jockey Club, we are pleased to be able to resume operations with the same purse structure for all overnight races throughout the rest of the summer while continuing running two days a week. Please know, the rumors of us being forced to cease racing the end of June are completely unfounded.

Moving forward, as revenues increase, we plan to add as many days to the calendar as feasible.

Additionally, Governor Hogan brought us some fantastic news by relaxing some restrictions in place and permitting Casinos to open June 19. Starting Saturday, MJC will be relaxing restrictions of owner's access to the backstretch as well as allowing all licensed personal access to the Backstretch. This is part of a gradual transition to more normal operations which we hope will lead to the opening of our facilities to the general public soon.

Maryland horsemen's resolve and fortitude has been remarkable, and we appreciate enormously your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.

Again, thank you for staying the course, and success to all going forward. See you at the races.

Best of racing luck and be safe,

Timothy L. Keefe
President, MTHA

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