Maryland racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

MHBA Announces New Incentives, Awards for Steeplechase Horses

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to begin an award program for Breeder, Owner and Stallion bonuses for registered Maryland-breds at sanctioned steeplechase race meets in Maryland. Beginning in 2022, registered Maryland-bred horses that run first, second or third will receive 30% on purses earned at National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned meets in Maryland. This program is modeled on the current bonuses paid to Maryland-breds that run at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Timonium.

The five meets that qualify for this program this year are: My Lady's Manor, Grand National, Maryland Hunt Cup, Fair Hill, and Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs. The bonus applies to NSA-sanctioned steeplechase and flat races with listed purses at Maryland meets. Bonuses will not apply to training flat races.

“We believe this program rewards those Maryland-bred horses that have successful careers over jumps and the people who breed, own and race them here,” said Richie Blue, Jr., MHBA president. “This community is an important part of Maryland's horse industry. Much of the land that is called 'horse country' is due to their vision and efforts to preserve green space.”

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Laurel to Cancel Live Racing Dec. 3-5

The Maryland Jockey Club confirmed the cancellation of live racing at Laurel Park through Sunday, Dec. 5 as work continues to complete repairs to the track and to analyze recent equine injuries. While racing is suspended, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the Maryland Jockey Club are working with industry experts to analyze surface composition and maintenance procedures directed at the safest possible racing surface.

According to a MJC press release: “Until now, and through collaborative measures among industry participants, Maryland racing has experienced the lowest fatality rate in its history. The safety, health and welfare of equine athletes is the primary responsibility of all stakeholders in Maryland and must be taken seriously. The Maryland racing industry remains laser focused on this problem and collectively pledges to do whatever is necessary to ensure that Maryland's historic racing industry remains world-class.”

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Full Fields On Tap For Thanksgiving Weekend At Laurel

Thanksgiving weekend continues at Laurel Park with a strong Saturday program featuring full fields and competitive racing led by a trio of post-holiday stakes worth $300,000 in purses.

A total of 97 horses were entered for the nine-race card, an average of 10.7 starters per race, all scheduled for Laurel's recently refurbished main track. Post time is 12:25 p.m.

Race 2 is a 6 ½-furlong claiming sprint for maidens age three, four, and five that attracted a field of 14 including Gold Fellow from fall meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez and Damon Dilodovico-trained stablemates Divine Proportion and Creative Storm.

Eleven fillies and mares three and up were entered in Race 4, a six-furlong claimer, including Fudge Cake, exiting the Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap. A field of 12 will contest Race 5, a 6 ½-furlong claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up, where Interesting Legacy (12), Stroll Smokin (10), Getoffmyback (15) and Mr. Pete (11) combining for 48 career victories.

The stakes come in succession – the seven-furlong, $100,000 City of Laurel for 3-year-olds in Race 6, where stakes winner Everett's Song goes after his fourth straight victory and Pickin' Time seeks to regain his graded-stakes winning form; seven-furlong $100,000 Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies in Race 7 featuring stakes winners Street Lute, Prodigy Doll and Malibu Beauty; and 1 1/8-mile, $100,000 Richard W. Small for 3-year-olds and up in Race 8.

Friday's nine-race card at Laurel, featuring a pair of $75,000 stakes, attracted 96 entries. Laurel's world-class turf course has closed for the season, meaning Races 3 and 6 will be contested over the main track. Race 3 is a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for fillies and mares three and up, while Race 6 is a Maryland-bred/sired allowance for 3-year-olds and up to be run at one mile.

Hello Beautiful will go after her fourth straight win and ninth career stakes victory in Race 4, the six-furlong Politely for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up, where the 4-year-old filly drew Post 1 in a field of eight and was installed as the 1-2 morning line favorite.

Brittany Russell-trained stablemate Whereshetoldmetogo is the narrow 3-1 program favorite in Race 8, the seven-furlong Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up. The 6-year-old gelding is a 12-time career winner, nine in stakes.

The post Full Fields On Tap For Thanksgiving Weekend At Laurel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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2022 Maryland Dates to Include August Meet at Pimlico

The inclusion of an August race meet at Pimlico Race Course for the first time in 17 years was the only major change in the 2022 slate of racing dates approved Thursday by the Maryland Racing Commission.

Although not discussed at the Oct. 28 meeting, one obvious benefit to the mid-summer move from Laurel Park to Pimlico will be the ability to give Laurel's turf course a break during the hottest time of the year in Maryland.

Pimlico last ran in the late summer back in 2005, when its calendar also included dates in January, April through June, and August.

In 2006, Pimlico's schedule got cut to an April-through-June meet. Between 2007 and 2015 it raced just April and May. In 2016 Pimlico raced May and June, and from 2017 to 2019 the schedule was pared down to only 12 dates in May in conjunction with the GI Preakness S.

The schedule for the last two years at Pimlico got thrown into an aberrational flux.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out spring racing in the state, so Pimlico raced just six dates over two weeks in September and October in conjunction with the repositioned Preakness.

In 2021, Pimlico had to pick up dates in April through August because of the emergency closure at Laurel to install a new main track.
After years of debate over what to do with the decaying Pimlico, its owner, The Stronach Group (TSG), has recently partnered with the city and the state for a an approximately $400-million redevelopment plan that will keep the Preakness in Baltimore while revitalizing the track's surrounding neighborhoods.

The Washington Post recently described the plan, which is just getting started, like this: “TSG will turn Pimlico over to the city. Its clubhouse and grandstand will be demolished and the racetrack rotated 30 degrees to free up parcels to sell for other development. A new clubhouse and event center will be erected, but horse training and stable operations will be consolidated at Laurel Park. All racing will move to Laurel, except for a short spring meet in Baltimore that will include the Preakness.”

Maryland's full 2022 Thoroughbred calendar follows:
• Laurel (147 dates over four meets): Jan. 1-Mar. 31, Apr. 1-May 8, June 1-July 31, Sept. 6-Dec. 31.
• Pimlico (21 dates over two meets): May 8-31, Aug 1-25 and Aug. 30.
• Timonium (7 dates): Aug. 25-Sept. 5.

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