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Laurel Weekend Cards Cancelled Due to Ongoing Track Issues, Racing Will Move to Pimlico

Live racing will be cancelled from Saturday, Apr. 17 through Monday, Apr. 19 at Laurel Park due to the ongoing evaluation of the main track surface conditions, the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST RACING announced Thursday. As part of regular track maintenance, the MJC identified Apr. 14 that the main track had not responded sufficiently to wintertime cushion repairs. Gallops will be allowed during an abbreviated training schedule Friday, Apr. 16.

Due to the uncertainty of the timeline to rehabilitate the main track surface cushion at Laurel Park, 1/ST RACING and the MJC submitted an application to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to move live racing to Pimlico Race Course, effective Apr. 22 on an emergency basis. The application has been granted and live racing will be moved to Pimlico Race Course until further notice.

Dr. Mick Peterson from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) along with 1/ST RACING's Senior Track Superintendent and MJC's Chris Bosley have been working together to assess the cushion replacement options using RSTL approved materials and to identify a project timeline.

“We understand that the timing of this Laurel Park main track maintenance is not ideal for our horsemen, but the safety of the horses and our riders must be our top priority,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING. “We have full confidence that Dr. Mick Peterson, Dennis Moore and Chris Bosley will manage this project quickly and will deliver a rehabilitated main track surface cushion that will offer superior training and racing to the benefit of Maryland horsemen for years to come.”

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Races Cancelled At Laurel Due To Track Conditions; Racing Moved To Pimlico Starting April 22

1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club announce today that live racing will be cancelled from Saturday April 17 through Monday April 19, due to the ongoing evaluation of the main track surface conditions. As part of regular track maintenance, the Maryland Jockey Club identified on April 14 that the main track had not responded sufficiently to wintertime cushion repairs. Gallops will be allowed during an abbreviated training schedule Friday, April 16.

Dr. Mick Peterson, from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) along with 1/ST RACING's Senior Track Superintendent and the Maryland Jockey Club's Chris Bosley have been working together to assess the cushion replacement options using RSTL approved materials and to identify a project timeline.

Due to the uncertainty of the timeline to rehabilitate the main track surface cushion at Laurel Park, 1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club submitted an application to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to move live racing to Pimlico Race Course, effective, April 22 on an emergency basis. The application has been granted and live racing will be moved to Pimlico Race Course until further notice.

The post Races Cancelled At Laurel Due To Track Conditions; Racing Moved To Pimlico Starting April 22 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Laurel Park Timed Workouts Put On Hold While Track Surface Evaluated

The Maryland Jockey Club issued the following media advisory on Wednesday evening concerning the dirt racing surface at Laurel Park and a temporary halt to timed workouts while an assessment is done on replacing the track's cushion.

“1/ST RACING and the Maryland Jockey Club, as part of regular track maintenance protocols, have identified that the main track at Laurel Park has not responded sufficiently to the necessary repairs following wintertime cushion changes,” the statement reads.

“While we work to assess cushion replacement options in consultation with Dr. Mick Peterson from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, the track will be available for gallopers only, tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 15. No workouts will be permitted until further notice.

“Dennis Moore, 1/ST Racing's senior Track Superintendent and MJC's Chris Bosley will work directly with Dr. Peterson to oversee the assessment. We anticipate more complete project details during the day on April 15 and will be sure to provide relevant updates in a timely manner. We appreciate the impact this will have on our horsemen and we thank you in advance for your patience and trust.”

Laurel is scheduled to resume racing on Saturday.

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Laurel Park: Claudio Gonzalez Making Up For Lost Time With Perfect 5-For-5 Start

After going 33 days between starters at Laurel Park, trainer Claudio Gonzalez is more than making up for lost time.

A 16-time meet champion in Maryland who has led the state in overall wins each of the past four years, Gonzalez has won with each of his first five starters at Laurel's spring meet, delayed to an April 8 opening by an equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) quarantine.

Gonzalez's barn was among those unable to enter races, and restricted to training hours separate from the rest of the horse population.

“It's not a good feeling when we can't train them the way we want. We only had 30 minutes to train all the horses, but it was the same way for everybody in quarantine,” Gonzalez said. “I believe the horses are saying thank you now. They got a little rest and they're feeling really good.”

Leading trainer with 28 wins despite missing the final two weekends of Laurel's 2021 winter meet, which had its last three programs canceled due to the quarantine, Gonzalez won with both his starters Friday – Robert D. Bone's Bear Force Won ($4.60) in Race 1 and Magic Stable's Baptize the Boy ($4.80) in Race 4.

Gonzalez won with all three of his starters on Thursday's opening day program – Marden ($5.20) and Queen of Tomorrow ($5.60), both owned by Bone, and Chetram Bhigroog's Cause to Dream ($6.60). Prior to that, Gonzalez hadn't run a horse at Laurel since winning with two of three starters March 7.

“I feel good, especially for the owners because the owners have bills to pay no matter what, and they lose money when they don't run,” he said. “Now they're happy.”

Gonzalez went 1-for-28 running at Parx in the interim. He has won 10 of the last 11 meets at Laurel dating back to the 2018, sweeping all four Maryland meets in 2020 including the Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course.

Gonzalez nominated 10 horses to Laurel's April 24 Spring Stakes Spectacular program, including stakes winners Miss Leslie for the $125,000 Weber City Miss), Eastern Bay and Lebda for the $100,000 Frank Y. Whiteley, Landing Zone for the $100,000 Dahlia and Completed Pass for the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury, the latter two on turf.

“The horses are ready to go and we were lucky to have the right races go, too. If we get the right races and the horses are ready, it's good. Everything happens for the better,” Gonzalez said. “If we continue like this, we're going to have some good weekends.”

Notes: Jockey Sheldon Russell and his wife, trainer Brittany Russell, teamed up for a pair of popular maiden wins Friday with 4-year-old filly Memphis Mafia ($2.80) in Race 3 and 4-year-old gelding Ratify ($3) in Race 7 … Russell completed a riding triple aboard Shane's Jewel ($4) for trainer Jamie Ness in Race 8 … Jockey Kevin Gomez notched back-to-back wins with Baptize the Boy ($4.80) in Race 4 and John the Bear ($24) in Race 5 … There will be carryovers of $5,396.14 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $922.76 in the $1 Super Hi-5 for Saturday's nine-race card (12:40 p.m. post). Multiple tickets with all six winners Friday returned $1,002.92.

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