Trainer John Shirreffs has been named to chair a newly created medication advisory panel for the California Horse Racing Board to provide consultation with the agency's medication and track safety committee.
3 days ago
Exchange wagering in California drew some strong opposition from The Stronach Group and several horsemen's organizations during its first California Horse Racing Board committee hearing Feb. 9 at Santa Anita.
4 days ago
The California Horse Racing Board received a surprise visit Jan. 19 from Santa Anita owner Frank Stronach, who told the board he wants to guarantee Santa Anita's long range future.
Thursday, January 19, 2012The California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced Aug. 20 that it has submitted more than 1,100 signatures to the state horse racing board seeking an election to decertify the current horsemen's representative.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
A reduction in the allowable level of the common pain reliever phenylbutazone in post-race tests was approved on a split vote by the California Horse Racing Board July 21 over the objections of horsemen.
Thursday, July 21, 2011Lou Raffetto, formerly the chief operating officer and president of the Maryland Jockey Club, has been named president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The National Steeplechase Association's 19-race spring season begins March 20 with the traditional Aiken Spring chase in Aiken, S.C.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010The National Steeplechase Association announced that Lou Raffetto will leave his position effective June 30 to pursue other opportunities within the Thoroughbred racing industry.
Friday, January 22, 2010The inaugural U.S. Steeplechase Championships are set to go Saturday, Oct. 17, with six events being conducted in Far Hills, New Jersey, and five races from the International Gold Cup in The Plains, Virginia.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Chris Dragone knows he is wading into some fiery situations as the new head of the Maryland Jockey Club, but said he is more than willing to take whatever heat necessary to right a rocky ship.
Friday, November 30, 2007
The Maryland Jockey Club announced Nov. 28 that president and chief operating officer Lou Raffetto Jr. will be leaving effective immediately to pursue other opportunities, and that Chris Dragone, a former senior vice president and general manager at the MJC, will take over his duties.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Live racing returns to Laurel Park Sept. 5 on the heels of the Maryland State Fair meet, which continues through Sept. 3 at Timonium.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Laurel Park's "Ten Days at 10 Percent" promotion didn't produce the desired results as far as handle is concerned, but track officials said the concept--cutting pari-mutuel takeout in half--should continue to be explored.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Laurel Park fall stakes schedule was approved July 24 at the monthly Maryland Racing Commission meeting.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007In a program billed "Ten Days at 10 Percent -- Racing's Best Bet," pari-mutuel takeout on Maryland's live races will be cut in half during Laurel Park's 10-day summer meet that runs from Aug. 10-23.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007Though the net result was slightly less than last year's effort, Pimlico Race Course still realized its fourth-highest wagering day ever May 19 for its card highlighted by the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, May 21, 2007The Maryland Jockey Club announced May 14 it will honor the late 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his jockey Edgar Prado, and his surgeon Dr. Dean Richardson at Pimlico Race Course during Preakness Week.
Monday, May 14, 2007A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that is expected to hit the Baltimore-Washington region Sunday forced Maryland Jockey Club officials to cancel live racing at Laurel Park for Sunday, Feb. 25.
Saturday, February 24, 2007The grade I Pimlico Special will not be carded in 2007 due to a limited amount of purse money.
Thursday, January 25, 2007Helped by an increase in all-source handle during the fall Laurel Park meeting, wagering involving Maryland Jockey Club racing topped $960 million in 2006.
Friday, January 05, 2007Alex Beitia became the 10th jockey known to be denied access to a U.S. racetrack this month when Philadelphia Park officials cited an ongoing investigation and barred him from working there for an indefinite period.
Thursday, December 21, 2006The Maryland Jockey Club has changed the name of the Sir Barton Stakes to the Barbaro Stakes. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds is one of eight added money races on the Preakness (gr. I) undercard.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006After a nine-week break, live racing returns to Maryland on Wednesday for an eight-day mini-meet at Laurel Park with a nine-race card, including three on the turf course.
Friday, August 11, 2006The Maryland Jockey Club concluded its winter meet at Laurel Park on Sunday, posting total wagering figures that are nearly 24% higher than the same dates a year ago.
Thursday, April 20, 2006Live racing shifts to historic Pimlico Race Course April 20 for the spring meeting. The headline event of the eight-week stand is the 131st running of the $1-million Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, set for May 20.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006Pimlico Race Course will offer a 25-cent Pick Six wager at the spring meeting that opens April 20, the Maryland Jockey Club announced April 5. The wager will have a guaranteed net payout of $5,000, to be split equally among all tickets correctly selecting the winners of the six designated races.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006The Maryland Department of Agriculture lifted the hold orders on the detention barn at Pimlico Race Course and an isolated barn at the Bowie Training Center March 8 after the final four horses in those barns tested negative for equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). The four are free to be moved back to their original barns to resume normal activities.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006The 2006 runnings of the Barbara Fritchie Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) and the General George Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), the marquee races of the Laurel Park winter meeting, have been canceled because of the equine herpesvirus outbreak, officials of the Maryland Jockey Club announced Feb. 20.
Monday, February 20, 2006Joseph A. De Francis announced Feb. 9 that he is stepping aside as president of the Maryland Jockey Club but will continue as the organization's chief executive officer. Louis J. Raffetto, the MJC's chief operating officer, takes over as president while Chris Dragone becomes senior vice president and general manager.
Thursday, February 09, 2006For the third consecutive Sunday, there will be no live racing at Laurel Park Feb. 12. The Maryland Jockey Club canceled the card due to a shortage of available horses because of the equine herpes outbreak in the state.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006The Maryland Jockey Club lifted its self-imposed quarantine on Pimlico Race Course Feb.8, allowing horses from the Baltimore track to compete at Laurel Park for the first time since Jan. 21. Twelve Pimlico-based horses ran on Wednesday's card (after two were morning scratches). Five of the nine races featured Pimlico horses.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006Maryland horsemen, in anticipation of the equine herpesvirus quarantine at Pimlico Race Course being lifted, entered 14 horses for the Feb. 8 card at Laurel Park. But some uneasiness remains given the volatile nature of the virus.
Saturday, February 04, 2006In anticipation of the quarantine at Pimlico Race Course being lifted next week, 11 trainers entered 14 horses Friday for the Feb. 8 card at Laurel Park.
Friday, February 03, 2006Maryland Jockey Club officials are hopeful they will be able to lift the equine herpesvirus quarantine at Pimlico Race Course Feb. 4, MJC chief operating officer Lou Raffetto said at a news conference at Laurel Park Jan.27. Raffetto placed the quarantine on the track Jan. 21.
Friday, January 27, 2006Though the Maryland Jockey Club has stepped up its fight against the equine herpes virus 1 that has frightened horsemen throughout the state with a quarantine of the entire Pimlico Race Course stable area, some trainers continued to worry the move may have come too late.
Sunday, January 22, 2006It appears another Maryland Racing Commission meeting will come and go Tuesday without an agreement between Magna Entertainment Corp, horsemen and breeders on a plan for the 2006 racing season in the state.
Friday, December 09, 2005When the Laurel Park fall meeting began in September, Maryland Jockey Club officials had high hopes for its new turf course. After three months the grass courses have exceeded expectations.
Friday, December 02, 2005Heavy rain in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C.-area has forced Saturday's Maryland Million card at Laurel Park to be postponed until next Saturday, Oct. 15.
Saturday, October 08, 2005The Maryland Jockey Club and Magna Entertainment Corp., which operates Pimlico and Laurel Park, plans to slash the number of live racing dates in 2006, from roughly 200 in 2004 and 2005 to 112, in an attempt to bolster purses and level the playing the field with surrounding Mid-Atlantic tracks that use expanded gaming to increase purses.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005Live racing shifts to Laurel Park Wednesday for a 78-day fall meeting that is highlighted by the Maryland Million (Oct. 8) and the Fall Festival Of Racing (November 19), headlined by the grade I Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash. The meet will feature 39 stakes races with purses exceeding $4 million.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005Officials of the Maryland Jockey Club hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its new turf course at Laurel Park. Twenty-one horses galloped and worked over the lush greenery for the first time this morning.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005Officials of the Maryland Jockey Club hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the opening of its new turf course at Laurel Park. Twenty-one horses galloped and worked over the lush greenery for the first time this morning.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005Thirty-nine stakes races, with purses totaling almost $3.8 million, highlight the opening of the fall meet at Laurel Park. The meet kicks off Sept. 7 with live racing on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the month. Sunday racing will be added beginning the first week of October.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005The Maryland Jockey Club announced June 8 that it has lifted the restrictions on horses planning to ship to Pimlico Race Course, Laurel Park or the Bowie Training Center from Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Delaware Park.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005The Maryland Jockey Club said the installation of sod for the Laurel Park turf course began May 31 under the supervision of turf superintendent Robbie Mitten.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005Live racing on the Maryland circuit shifts to historic Pimlico Race Course April 20 for the spring meet. The headline event of the eight-week stand is the 130th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the middle jewel of the VISA Triple Crown, on May 21.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005For the second day in a row Sunday, a powerful winter storm in the eastern portion of the country forced cancellation of live racing at Aqueduct, Laurel Park and Turfway Park.
Sunday, January 23, 2005Due to construction delays at Laurel Park because of severe rain in central Maryland, the Oct. 9 Maryland Million program will be conducted at Pimlico Race Course for the eighth time in the 19-year history of the event.
Friday, July 30, 2004Live racing will return to Maryland with the opening of Pimlico's Summer Meet on July 31 and continue through August 27.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004Jim Gagliano, who joined Magna Entertainment Corp. more than two years ago, has been appointed executive vice president of Maryland racing operations for MEC, majority owner of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course under the Maryland Jockey Club banner.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
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