Maryland Jockey Club | Horse Racing Free Tips

Citing Surface Concerns, Laurel Cancels Saturday’s Card

In a press release sent out just 50 minutes before the post time for the day's first race, Laurel Park management announced that the Saturday card had been postponed. The reason given was an “abundance of caution to do a full evaluation of the racing surfaces.”

According to multiple sources, two horses broke down during training hours Saturday. One of the horses had to be euthanized and the other did not. There were no incidents during racing on Thursday and Friday.

Maryland Jockey Club Acting President Mike Rogers sent a group text to horsemen Saturday at 11:10 a.m, which read: “I have received feedback from some of the horsemen that they have concerns about the track, and we are going to take the next couple of days to investigate those concerns.”

The track will be closed Sunday and Monday, but is expected to re-open for training on Tuesday. Live racing resumes Thursday.

The condition of the main track at Laurel has been an issue in recent years. In 2021, seven horses died at Laurel over a four-week period after a new racing surface was installed.

According to the Racingbiz.com, Rogers addressed concerns horsemen had with the track in an April 4 meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission, saying the company was in the midst of repairs to a spot near the first finish line.

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Sal Sinatra To Serve As HISA Adviser

Former president and CEO of Equibase, Sal Sinatra, will advise the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) for the next six months on the integration of the InCompass interface at racetracks with the HISA portal, they said in a statement Thursday.

Sinatra designed, programmed and installed racing office software for more than 30 racetracks when he was a principal with TSNS in the late 1980s, before it was acquired by a subsidiary of The Jockey Club. The TSNS assets were then merged into what is now known as InCompass, the industry standard for racing offices.

HISA's portal utilizes InCompass' data stream to synchronize all horse-related information. Sinatra will assist HISA's technology team, led by Chief Technology Officer Steve Keech, to streamline workflow and provide a more seamless experience for users.

“Sal's subject matter expertise and relationships with racing offices across the country will be a major value-add to HISA and to the entire industry as we enter this new chapter in Thoroughbred racing,” said Keech.

“This is a crucial moment for Thoroughbred racing's future, and I am grateful to join the team working to make compliance with HISA's rules simple and straightforward for all involved,” said Sinatra. “I look forward to serving as a resource to the HISA team and to horsemen around the country as they continue to get acquainted with HISA's rules and requirements.”

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Women & Horses Panel Scheduled for Mar. 27

In celebration of Women's History Month, the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center will host a panel to talk about “Women & Horses” on Monday, Mar. 27, at 4 pm.

The speakers are a respected group of Maryland women with diverse equine experiences, including Georganne Hale, vice president of racing development for the Maryland Jockey Club, Cappy Jackson, an award-winning equine photographer for more than four decades, Cindy Halle, a multiple-championship winning polo coach at Garrison Forest School and the Maryland Polo Club, and Karen Fulton, head trainer and owner of Full Moon Farm in Finksburg and vice chair of the Maryland Horse Industry Board.

Attendance is free. For more information about the panel and other activities at the Maryland Horse Library, visit marylandhorse.com, call (410) 252-2100, or email bremsberg@marylandthoroughbred.com.

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Tracks to Honor Avery Whisman

Tracks across the country will hold a moment of silence Feb. 18 in memory of the late jockey Avery Whisman. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, in coordination with racetracks across the country, is leading the initiative in an effort to shed light on mental health awareness and the challenges jockeys face. Jockeys at all participating tracks will wear black armbands in tribute to Whisman, who died suddenly Jan. 11 at the age of 23 following a prolonged struggle with the physical and mental demands placed on riders.

The 1/ST properties: Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Golden Gate, will all participate and Laurel Park, where Whisman rode primarily in 2019-2020, will have a race named in his honor on its Feb. 18 Winter Carnival program. Jockeys, family and friends will gather in the Laurel winner's circle following the race and observe the moment of silence.

Whisman's parents, Lyman and Salli, said, “We are so very proud of our son and all he accomplished in his short life. In the future, we hope to raise awareness and empower dialogue within the racing industry around gaps in needed health and mental health support for its jockey athletes.”

Mike Rogers, acting president of the Maryland Jockey Club, said, “Mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, no matter your age or profession. It's important for individuals to prioritize and take care of their mental health, and it's important for us to reach out to those who may show signs of needing help.”

Terry Meyocks, President and CEO of Jockeys' Guild said, “The Jockeys' Guild sincerely appreciates 1/ST Racing bringing attention to the important issues of mental health and other health related challenges affecting jockeys. These are struggles that jockeys and the Guild have dealt with on a continual basis.”

Laurel will also distribute hats and T-shirts for a donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since its founding in 2006, the PDJF has disbursed nearly $11 million.

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