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Delaware Gets 100 Days; No Deal With Horsemen

Delaware Park was awarded 100 days of live Thoroughbred racing for 2012, but the track has no contract with the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for the meet.

Fairmount Park Purses to Jump 20% in 2012

Fairmount Park and the Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have agreed upon an increased purse structure for 2012 thanks to the racetrack's share of casino impact funding it received last year.

PA Tracks to Offer 504 Live Race Days in 2012

Thoroughbred racetracks in Pennsylvania are scheduled to offer a combined 504 live racing days in 2012.

Atlantic City Gets Six Days of Turf Racing

Though the specifics of the Monmouth Park racing schedule for 2012 are undecided, Atlantic City Race Course will offer the customary six days of all turf racing this spring.

Sam Houston Gears Up for 2012 Meet

Sam Houston Race Park will launch Thoroughbred racing in Texas for 2012 with average daily purses of $160,000, highest in the track's 18-year history.

Indiana Tracks Set 2012 Racing Schedules

Indiana will offer 125 days of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing in 2012 under schedules recently released by Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and Indiana Downs.

Christie OKs Monmouth, Meadowlands Agreements

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Dec. 20 officially announced separate deals for the continuation of live racing at Monmouth Park and Meadowlands in 2012.

MD Groups Commit to Discuss Long-Term Plan

Maryland racing industry officials already have scheduled their first meeting to devise a long-term strategy for live racing in the state beyond 2012.

Gulfstream Park Handle Beating Projections

Gulfstream Park reported average daily all-sources pari-mutuel handle of about $6.6 million during its first 10 race days in December, surpassing management's expectations for its first December racing in several decades.

Youthful View: Racing Can Grow If It Adapts

Several of the younger racetrack executives in the United States and overseas believe horse racing isn't going away any time soon--if the industry can adapt.

Gulfstream Hopes New Schedule, Changes Work

The highly anticipated revised schedule in southeast Florida racing will arrive Dec. 3 when Gulfstream Park begins an 87-day meet that will extend through April 8, 2012.

Kentucky Racing Shifts to Turfway Park

Kentucky racing shifts to Turfway Park for four months beginning Dec. 1, opening night of the holiday meet. Five stakes are scheduled for the December meet.

No Dates in Maryland, But Talks Continue

Maryland racing interests still hope to avoid repeating a situation a year ago that left Laurel Park without 2011 racing dates just a week before the meet was scheduled to begin.

WV Tracks Granted 445 Racing Programs in 2012

West Virginia's two Thoroughbred tracks have been approved for a combined 445 racing programs in 2012.

Monmouth Adds Six Days to 2011 Schedule

Monmouth Park will be open for an additional six days of live racing from Nov. 11-20 under the "Meadowlands at Monmouth" meet banner.

State Hopes to Resolve Maryland Dates Fight

The administration of Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is again trying to resolve a racing dates dispute one horsemen's representative said could "potentially get very ugly."

2012 Kentucky Racing Dates Approved

With only a slight modification from the original proposal approved previously by a committee, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Oct. 24 unanimously OK'd 2012 racing dates for the state's racetracks.

Racing Dates Major Issue Again in Maryland

The Maryland Jockey Club has told state regulators its financial situation will keep it from offering a full 146-day live racing schedule in 2012.

IRB Protects Spring Meet at Hawthorne in 2012

The Illinois Racing Board Sept. 27 rejected a 2011 racing dates proposal that would have eliminated the spring meet at Hawthorne Race Course, including the grade III Illinois Derby.

Ohio 2012 Dates Reflect Some Stability

After years of steady reductions, Ohio's seven racetracks have applied for 694 dates in 2012, only seven fewer than were applied for this year.

Does CA Breeders' Cup Hinge on Fall Dates?

California isn't expected to award 2012 racing dates until the fall, which makes for an interesting scenario as Breeders' Cup continues discussions on selection of a host site for next year's World Championships.

Schedule, Wagering Changes at Penn National

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has been approved to make several schedule and wagering changes, including a return to live racing Wednesday and Thursday nights.

It's Another Key Year for Maryland Racing

Joe Bryce, chief legislative officer for the Maryland governor, indicated May 19 discussions held later this year will be of utmost importance to Maryland horse racing.

ACRC: Track Left for Dead Offers Stability

A racetrack whose obituary was written more than 10 years ago finds itself in the odd situation of being the most stable track in New Jersey -- for now at least -- as it prepares to open its 65th season April 28.

Status of Turfway, KY Industry Discussed

Officials wouldn't comment April 8 on growing rumors of an impending ownership change at Turfway Park in Kentucky, but they did say plans call for live racing to continue.

Turfway Bucks Trend; Ontrack Handle Up 13.5%

Turfway Park reported across-the-board increases in pari-mutuel handle for its 2011 winter/spring meet in the face of national figures that show total handle on United States racing is down 8.5% for the same period.

Suffolk Seeking Legislation to Reduce Dates

Suffolk Downs, which negotiated a new contract with the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association calling for fewer live racing days in 2011, is now seeking the legislative relief to make that possible.

Changes in Store for 2011 Colonial Meet

The $500,000 Colonial Turf Cup (gr. IIT) at Colonial Downs June 18 is now open to older turf horses -- one of several changes for the 2011 summer meet at Colonial Downs.

Despite Uncertainty, Monmouth Unveils Stakes

Despite uncertainty over its 2011 racing calendar, Monmouth Park March 15 unveiled a $4.2 million stakes schedule that encompasses the core of its proposed meet.

Monmouth Dates Request on Regulators' Agenda

The muddled picture of New Jersey racing may become somewhat clearer March 18 when the New Jersey Racing Commission considers a request from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to amend its request for dates.

Plenty of Early Interest in Monmouth Lease

Eight entities have submitted bids to lease and operate Monmouth Park over a five-year period beginning June 1.

Monmouth Park Meet Called 'Controlled Chaos'

New Jersey's racing schedule currently consists of six dates at Atlantic City Race Course, but the president of the state's horsemen's group called any discussion of Monmouth Park not running a meet this year premature.

South Florida Dates Altered; Overlap Avoided

Gulfstream Park and Calder Casino & Race Course have selected schedules that will have Gulfstream rather than Calder holding races through most of December 2011, with no overlap of dates.

Charles Town Reports Monthly Handle Record

Average daily handle for 20 live race days in February at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was $1,205,461, which broke the previous record by nearly 12%.

Mountaineer Begins 210-Day Meet March 1

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will begin its 210-day meet March 1 with a schedule similar to that of last year.

Time Running Out for Suffolk Downs Agreement

There is a Feb. 25 deadline looming in the 2011 contract dispute between Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

Source: Suffolk Wants Signals, Could Close

Suffolk Downs has threatened to shut down in March if the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and other chapters across the country do not restore simulcast signals by Feb. 26, according to a source.

Commission Gives Delaware Park 106 Race Dates

In the absence of an agreement between horsemen and Delaware Park on racing dates, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission Feb. 9 awarded the track 106 racing days for 2011.

RFP Being Developed for Monmouth Park Suitors

New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority officials are preparing a request for proposals for parties interested in purchasing Monmouth Park.

Crunch Time for Delaware Park Racing Dates

In the absence of an agreement between horsemen and Delaware Park on racing dates, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission is prepared to set its own schedule for 2011 during its next meeting Feb. 9.

Carlino: 'We're Not Running Public Charity'

Penn National Gaming Inc. believes racetrack gaming can be a major economic driver but shouldn't be viewed as a means to increase pari-mutuel wagering on racing, company president Peter Carlino said.

Racing-Related Bills Progress in New Jersey

Legislation geared toward the horse racing industry unanimously passed the New Jersey Assembly Regulatory Oversight and Gaming Committee Jan. 20.

Calder, Gulfstream Dates Dispute Persists

Horsemen confront head-to-head racing in south Florida as Calder, Gulfstream seek competing dates.

Turfway Park to Try Saturday Night Racing

Turfway Park, in an attempt to drive ontrack business, hopes to replicate its Friday night success by switching to an evening post time on Saturdays beginning Feb. 5.

Sam Houston: Shorter Meet, Higher Purses

The 2011 Texas racing season begins Jan. 21 with the opening of Sam Houston Race Park, which will offer a 27-day meet through March 7.

Bloodbath Looming on Florida Racing Dates?

The biggest issue at Calder Casino & Race Course Jan. 4, closing day of its 2010-11 meet, was a fast-brewing and potentially bitter dispute with Gulfstream Park over southeast Florida's attractive December racing dates.

Looking Forward to Flat By Eric Mitchell

Now is the time to take a serious look at reducing the racing calendar.

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Mountaineer Calendar: 210 Racing Days in 2011

Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will offer 210 days of live Thoroughbred racing in 2011 beginning March 1.

NJ Dates Granted, Betting Parlors Licensed

The New Jersey Racing Commission Dec. 22 awarded full racing dates for 2011 and also licensed four off-track wagering facilities for the coming year.

Chaos, Mistrust in Maryland as Clock Ticks

A horsemen's representative acknowledged Dec. 21 there's still a little more than a week to get a racing schedule in place in Maryland for 2011, but he said chances are slim if the situation isn't resolved before Christmas.