Maryland Jockey Club

With all eyes on Maryland this week as Saturday's 150th running of the GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course takes center stage, a unique organization that highlights all that Maryland's Thoroughbred industry has to offer aims to keep that focus year-round. The Maryland Thoroughbred Partnership (MTP), launched earlier this year, was created by Maryland Thoroughbred industry leaders to educate the general public about the expansiveness of the industry behind the nationally recognized sport of horse racing, which makes up a large part of the state's greater equine industry. The...

The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc., a newly formed nonprofit entity charged with overseeing live Thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and a new, state-of-the-art training facility built in Carroll County Maryland, has named its inaugural Board of Directors, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced Friday. The MTROA, established to secure the long-term stability and modernization of Thoroughbred racing in the state, played a central role in establishing The Maryland Jockey Club, Inc. as a nonprofit operator that prioritizes the interests of horsemen, fans, and the broader Maryland...

With a handle of $5,536,944 wagered on the 12-race "Preakness Preview Day" program at Laurel Park, the new Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) set a handle record Saturday, according to a release from the organization. Two "Win Today, See You in May events" were contested Saturday, as well as the first stakes races on turf in the state of Maryland for the year. The $150,000 Federico Tesio Stakes offered a fees-paid guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the GI Preakness Stakes, while the Weber City Miss Stakes offered the same...

Preak Weeks is slated to return in 2025 in a joint initiative between 1/ST and The Maryland Jockey Club. Preak Weeks will be staged in partnership with Heidi Klotzman of HeidnSeek Entertainment. Introduced in 2023, Preak Weeks provides a spotlight on Baltimore-based businesses in the lead up to the Preakness Stakes. From Apr. 28 through May 16, one of 19 participating businesses will give away A Day at the Races to Preakness 150 with a four-pack of tickets. In addition, each participating business will receive a QR code and custom...

Entries are now open for the David F. Woods Memorial Award, presented for the best Preakness story print, television and multimedia from 2024, and the Jerry Frutkoff Photography Award, presented to the photographer of the best Preakness image from 2024. Recipients of the David F. Woods and Jerry Frutkoff Award will be honored at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. The Alibi Breakfast, which started in the late 1930s, features a gathering of media, owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, and celebrities to celebrate the Preakness and solicit...

That the figures recently released by the Jockey Club from its Equine Injury Database showed another significant drop in the number of fatalities was good news, but hardly surprising news. The numbers seem to get better every year. But dig deeper into the data presented by the Jockey Club and there is a number that is quite surprising and encouraging. In 2024, dirt tracks were almost as safe as synthetic tracks. There were 1.18 fatalities per 1,000 starts on the dirt, which came very close to the number in the...

Lexington, KY--The final day of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) Training Conference at Keeneland escalated the focus on enforcement and how investigators can broaden their expertise. Though participants regularly receive training at home, the ORI sessions offer equine knowledge that is highly specialized which can be taken back to their own jurisdictions and applied. Mike Singletary, vice president of security for the Maryland Jockey Club, said when his team walks the shedrow at Pimlico or Laurel being cognizant of your surroundings takes time and effort to hone. "Information is...

The new Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) has hired veteran John Banno as Director of Racing Surfaces, the organization said in a press release on Friday morning. Previously the superintendent at Thistledown, Banno brings over 30 years of industry experience to the role. He will oversee the TMJC track team as they maintain the dirt surfaces at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and the brand-new training center at Shamrock Farm. "John is the perfect fit for the Maryland Jockey Club," said President and General Manager Bill Knauf. "He has a proven...

Fritz Widaman has been named Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sponsorships, the Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday. Previously a key executive at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Widaman brings over 37 years of experience to his new role. Throughout his career, Widaman has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the horse racing industry by leveraging his sales, marketing, and business development expertise to foster growth and innovation. "We are thrilled to have Fritz join the new TMJC," said MJC President and General Manager Bill Knauf. "He is a seasoned professional...

Due to the storm that will impact the Mid-Atlantic region, officials at Laurel Park made the decision to cancel their scheduled nine-race program for Sunday, the Maryland Jockey Club announced via press release. Laurel and the MJC OTB network will remain open for simulcasting. Live racing is due to return Friday, Jan. 24 with a nine-race program. The first post is scheduled at 12:25 p.m.

Edited Press Release Famed equestrian and longtime Thoroughbred trainer Rodney Jenkins was honored by the Maryland racing community Tuesday in a memorial service at Laurel Park. Jenkins, a beloved horseman, died Dec. 5 at age 80. "He taught me a lot on how to ride," said jockey Richard Monterrey. "Monterrey, you're riding too low, too high. Monterrey, put your hands down, relax, let the horse stride. He was very aware of everything that was happening. I called him Mr. Jenkins at first, and then I changed it to Papa Jenkins....

In just her fifth full year of training, Brittany Russell topped the annual standings in Maryland for the second consecutive season, and jockey Jaime Rodriguez also repeated as the state's leading rider, the Maryland Jockey Club said in a release on Tursday. In 2023, Russell ended Claudio Gonazlez's six-year reign atop the leaderboard by notching 118 victories at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, finishing five ahead of runner-up Jamie Ness. Last year, Russell earned 113 victories at Laurel and Pimlico, 16 more than runner-up Ness. Nationwide, she registered 157...