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No Detailed Update From Laurel on Massive Track Repair Project

Thursday's Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) meeting figured to provide an update on the massive main track base and cushion repair project that has kept Laurel Park dark since Apr. 10 and caused the entire backstretch community to relocate to either Pimlico Race Course, the Timonium fairgrounds, or private stabling.

But beyond noting that all horses had been moved out of the Laurel backstretch as of May 26 and thanking horsemen for their cooperation, Sal Sinatra, the president of the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC), which owns Laurel and Pimlico, only reported to the commission when asked to give an update that “I'm anxious and hopeful that by July 1 it does get done.”

Sinatra then added, “Weather permitting.”

The brevity of that update stands in stark contrast to the extensive grilling that executives from the MJC-and its parent company, The Stronach Group (TSG)-faced at last month's MRC meeting, when commissioners told track management it should have had the foresight to identify and remedy the difficulties earlier, and that the spiraling multi-million-dollar project represented “an accumulation of bad decisions over time.”

Sinatra mentioned several times during the May 27 meeting that that he is not directly involved in the track reconstruction project. But no other MJC or TSG executives were made available to explain the work in detail to commissioners.

Thursday's meeting was held at Pimlico, which has been given commission approval to host the Laurel race dates through June 30.

One commissioner (it was unclear who on the audio stream because he did not identify himself) took umbrage with the MJC providing such a sparse report. He asked Sinatra about details such as a firm timeline for moving forward with the work, or contingency plans for what might happen if the project falls behind.

“I hear you. I'm hopeful,” Sinatra replied. “Again, I'm kind of removed from that project.”

The commissioner shot back: “I understand. That's why I'm asking that you go back to your organization [to find out] some kind of timeline, a critical path of what's got to happen by certain days for the next thing to happen [to] get this thing done in 30 days. I understand you're not involved. But I was hoping that we would get an update on [a project that is] so critical to Maryland racing.”

Sinatra said he would relay the message to his fellow MJC and TSG executives and get back to the commission. He agreed that the project was crucial to everyone involved, noting that agreements for Timonium stabling and putting up backstretch workers in hotels are “predicated on like June 30 to July 5. I mean, we're going to be up against it if we go past” what is already a tight timeline, he said.

Commissioner Michael Algeo then stepped in and suggested that someone from Sinatra's team get in touch with the commission on the Tuesday after this upcoming holiday weekend to set up a time when the MJC and TSG can provide a more detailed update to the board.

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America Check-Off Program Raises Over $100,000 From 2020 Auctions

Thoroughbred Charities of America announced today that over $100,000 has been raised to assist backstretch and farm worker-focused charities. The funds will be awarded to approved grant applicants during TCA's current granting cycle.

Keeneland's September 2020 Yearling Sale, November 2020 Breeding Stock Sale, and the January Horses of All Ages Sale offered buyers the opportunity to donate one-half of one percent (.05 percent) of their total sale purchases to TCA via a voluntary contribution on their invoices. Fasig-Tipton made a generous direct contribution in support of these fundraising efforts.

“Our workforce is vital to our industry and it is imperative that we take care of them,” said Mike McMahon, president of TCA. “During the height of the pandemic many of our human-focused charities incurred significant additional expenses to care for workers affected by COVID-19, so we asked Keeneland and Fasig for their help in raising money for these charities. We are very grateful to the buyers and sales companies for their contributions.”

Since 1990, TCA has distributed over $24 million in grants to approved charities working to provide Thoroughbred aftercare as well as health and human services for backstretch and farm workers.

Last year, TCA distributed grants totaling nearly $1,070,000. A record 92 grant applications were received during the organization's annual grant cycle. Ultimately, 70 organizations were approved for a grant including 45 aftercare organizations, 16 backstretch and farm worker programs, five equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs, and one research organization. Grant recipients from the last three years can be found on www.tca.org. Additionally, the Horses First Fund, an emergency fund started in 2016 by LNJ Foxwoods and managed by TCA, provided Coronavirus relief funding to three backstretch organizations, seven aftercare organizations and supported two feed assistance programs earlier this year. The total expended from the Horses First Fund was $79,900 bringing the organization's total 2020 grantmaking over the $1-million mark.

TCA's mission is to fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).

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Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: May 29, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Plenty of activity this weekend, so we'll begin with Saturday's runners at Tokyo and Chukyo, where the promising Careerism (Upstart) will try to build on an impressive maiden victory from three weeks ago:

4th-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400mT
ROARING (f, 3, California Chrome–Warbling, by Unbridled's Song) looks to become the fourth winner from five to race for her dam, winner of the 2010 GII Inside Information S. and placed in the GI Princess Rooney H. and GI Ballerina S. before fetching $1.1 million at Fasig-Tipton November that fall. Warbling's stakes-winning full-sister Arianna's Passion is the dam of MSW & MGSP Distorted Passion (Distorted Humor). Roaring was a $260K purchase at Keeneland September in 2019. B-Aaron & Marie Jones LLC (KY)

6th-CKO, ¥13,830,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
CAREERISM (c, 3, Upstart–Out of Goodbyes, by Out of Place) ran too good to lose in finishing runner-up in each of his first two trips to the post over the winter and most recently overcame a bit of a slow start from a double-digit gate to graduate by seven lengths over this track and distance in strong time May 8 (see below, gate 14). An $85K FTKNOV weanling purchase, the February foal fetched $120K at FTKJUL in 2019 and $200K as an OBS March breezer last year. Yuichi Fukunaga has a return call. B-Golden Pedigree LLC (KY)

9th-TOK, ¥28,600,000 ($261k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1400m
MYTYL (f, 4, Verrazano–Blue Bird Lady, by Congrats) was perfect in two starts going this distance last term, winning her maiden impressively at first asking over this track in February (see below, gate 1) before overcoming an impossible trip to take a one-win class allowance (N1X) from a high draw at Hanshin in June (video, gate 14). A $100K KEENOV weanling and $130K OBSMAR juvenile, Mytyl is out of an unraced half-sister to SW Yes She's A Lady (Yes It's True) and the further female family includes MGISW Pure Clan (Pure Prize), the dam of SW & GSP Princesa Carolina (Tapit); and MGSW Greater Good (Intidab). B-Denali Broodmare Partnership II (KY)

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Del Mar, Santa Anita Planning To Ban Thoroughbreds Racing In 1,000-Yard Events At Los Al

With the increasing popularity of running Thoroughbreds in 1,000-yard (approximately 4 1/2 furlongs) mixed-breed races at Los Alamitos, Del Mar's first condition book has stipulated that horses starting in two of those races at Los Al will be banned from racing at the Del Mar meet, reports the Daily Racing Form.

Held under allowance conditions over the past several months, the 1,000-yard races at Los Al have drawn entrants based at Santa Anita, which has, in turn, struggled to attract full fields for its dirt races.

The new policy will be enacted on July 16 at the start of the Del Mar meeting, and will extend through Santa Anita's autumn meet.

The terms in the Del Mar condition book urge trainers to communicate with racing officials at Del Mar, Santa Anita, and Golden Gate before entering at Los Al.