Maryland Racing

Four barns at Laurel Park were placed under quarantine and shipping out was barred for horses stabled at Maryland's two Thoroughbred tracks Mar. 9 after a symptomatic horse at Laurel tested positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and was removed to a veterinary facility. On a national scale, active cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease are being monitored in several states right now, including in Florida at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. On Mar. 7, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture state veterinarian's office issued written guidance related...

Laurel Park was forced to push back its entire nine-race Winter Sprintfest card--including the GIII Runhappy Barbara Fritchie S. and GIII General George S.--one week from Saturday, Feb. 13 to Feb. 20 due to a winter storm. The card also includes four $100,000 listed stakes. Racing is scheduled to be held Sunday, Feb. 14 and on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) have released procedures for access to the backside at MJC facilities. The restrictions are designed to help keep the spread of COVID-19 in check and are effective immediately. For traveling between the Mid-Atlantic region of Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., horsemen are required to submit a weekly negative PCR test. When traveling from all other states, a five-day quarantine is required and a negative test must be submitted after the quarantine period. International travelers must...

For up-and-coming horsewoman Sabrina Moore, co-owner and operator of GreenMount Farm in Glyndon, Maryland, two of her greatest accomplishments revolve around Maryland breeding and racing. Last year Knicks Go (Paynter), a colt she co-bred with her mother Angie Moore, was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year after winning the 2018 edition of the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and running second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile behind Eclipse Award winner Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}). [tdn_vimeo_embed title="GreenMount Farm's Sabrina Moore " admp4="https://player.vimeo.com/external/457768014.sd.mp4?s=4c622a4137c4a6dbc07e85af3da7af49dd5142e9&profile_id=165" videomp4= "https://player.vimeo.com/external/463243423.sd.mp4?s=9edd38c392a47ba5a2b490471439765dcf42f9e7&profile_id=165" thumbnail= ""] "When Knicks Go got...

For the fourth consecutive year, the Maryland Jockey Club is offering the $100,000 Sentient Jet Trainer Bonus to horsemen that accumulate the most points during stakes races over GI Preakness S. weekend, Oct. 1-3 at Pimlico Race Course. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen captured the $50,000 prize in both 2017 and 2018 but finished second to Brad Cox in 2019. Led by the 145th running of the Preakness, presented this year as the final jewel in a refashioned Triple Crown and a "Win and You"re In" qualifier for the...

Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen Association, after conferring with the Maryland Jockey Club, announced operations will resume at a similar purse structure for overnight races through the rest of the summer, while staging live racing two days a week. Moving forward, as revenues increase, plans call for the addition of days to the calendar. With Casinos scheduled to re-open June 19, the MJC is expected to begin relaxing restrictions of owner's access to the backstretch as well as allowing all licensed personal access to the backstretch beginning June 20.

The Maryland Jockey Club has informed the Maryland Racing Commission of its plans to restrict races for 2-year-olds to connections who opt not to administer Lasix on race day. "The time has come to phase out Lasix beginning with 2-year-old horses," said Belinda Stronach, Chairman and President, The Stronach Group and 1/ST. "We are following through on 1/ST Racing's commitment to put horse and rider safety and welfare at the forefront. We believe in the principle that horses should only be racing free of medication. By taking this important step...

Two-time classic-winning trainer Michael Matz will judge the 86th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show. Open to all yearlings eligible for Maryland-bred registration, the show has been rescheduled for 2020 and will be held Sunday, July 19 at the Maryland State Fairgounds' Horse Show Ring in Timonium. Entries are due by June 20. Based at Fair Hill Training Center, Matz is responsible for undefeated 2006 GI Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro and GI Belmont S. hero Union Rags. Matz also trained multiple Grade I-winning turf runner Kicken Kris, GI Breeders'...

The 145th GI Preakness S. could be held Oct. 3, per a report by NBC affiliate WBAL TV. "The TV time is booked, and the 145th Preakness S. will be held Oct. 3 on NBC," the report read. The GI Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled for Sept. 5, while a date for the GI Belmont S. has yet to be announced. The Preakness S., originally scheduled for May 16, was postponed by the Maryland governor amid the coronavirus outbreak in March. It was also announced last month that the Preakness...

While eager to see the return of live racing at Laurel, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Tim Keefe knows that the belt-tightening may not end any time soon. Casino revenues account for a large portion of the purse money for the Maryland tracks and its likely that the state's casinos will be closed for several more months. "It certainly is a concern and something on our minds," Keefe said. "Nearly70% of our purse revenues are derived from the casinos. With them being closed down, obviously it is a big concern...

The Racing and Community Development Act of 2020, which authorizes $375 million to pay for the rebuilding of Pimlico and the refurbishing of Laurel, was passed Wednesday by the Maryland General Assembly, reports the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. The bill will now go to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who is expected to sign it. If signed by Hogan, the Act will go into effect June 1. It has sailed through both Maryland houses. The House passed the conference committee version of the bill by a vote of 113-14 a short...

In light of the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks, and simulcast betting facilities to the general public indefinitely. "This situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically," Hogan said. "These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe." The emergency order, which takes effect at midnight Monday, affects Thoroughbred facilities Laurel, Pimlico and Timonium and harness tracks Rosecroft...