WV Racing, Breeding Take 10% Revenue Hit
The West Virginia Legislature March 14 passed a fiscal year 2014-15 budget that will redirect 10% of racing's share of gaming revenue to other programs.
Mid-Atlanic Region
News and features for Mid-Atlantic farm owners, racehorse owners, and breeders
Secretariat Celebration Set for March 29
The annual birthday celebration for legendary 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat is set for March 29 at his birthplace in Doswell, Va.
Concern, Tuscalee Inducted into Maryland Hall
Breeders' Cup winner Concern and champion steeplechaser Tuscalee are the newest inductees into the Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.
Trainer Michael D'Angelo Dies at 55
Michael D'Angelo worked with many of the East Coast's most prominent trainers before opening his own stable.
Xpressbet to Sponsor HOF Jockey Challenge
Leading online wagering provider Xpressbet will sponsor the Hall of Fame Jockey Challenge, an event scheduled for May 16, Black-Eyed Susan Day, at Pimlico Race Course.
Effort to Resolve Virginia Dates Fails Again
A two-hour meeting March 12 between the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, representatives of Colonial Downs, and an arbitrator failed to yield an agreement over 2014 racing dates in Virginia.
Maryland-Based Owner Arnold Heft Dies at 94
Colorful owner Arnold Heft died in his sleep March 12 at Sunrise at Fox Hill Senior Living Facility in Bethesda, Md. He was 94.
Hall of Fame Jockeys to Compete at Pimlico
One of the unique offerings on this year's Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) day card at Pimlico Race Course May 16 is the $50,000 Jockey Challenge Presented by Xpressbet that will feature seven active Hall of Fame riders.
Concert Added to Black-Eyed Susan Day Lineup
The Maryland Jockey Club announced that Counting Crows, The Fray, and Annie Bosko will perform live in the public infield at Pimlico Race Course, beginning in the late afternoon May 16, Black-Eyed Susan day.
Brother Derek Leased by Naylee in WV
Naylee Farm has leased dual grade I winner Brother Derek from Airdrie Stud for the 2014 season. He will stand at the Summit Point, W.V., property for a $3,500 fee.
Johnston New Racing Director at Penn National
Eric Johnston, currently vice president of racing/racing secretary at Sam Houston Race Park, has been named director of racing operations for Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Charles Town Cancels Wednesday Night Card
Because of inclement weather that moved through the area this week, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has canceled its March 5 live racing program. Also, the final six races of the card at Laurel Park were canceled.
HRTV to Air Penn Gaming Racing Challenge
Penn National Gaming announced that HRTV will provide television coverage for the remaining five events in the 2014 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge as well as the West Virginia Breeders' Classics.
Jockey Rodriguez Wins with First U.S. Mount
Puerto Rican native Israel Rodriguez made a great first impression at Laurel Park Feb. 28, riding a winner in his initial race in the United States.
Mountaineer Opens Meet With Steady Purses
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort will kick off its 210-day season March 1 with average daily overnight purses of about $115,000, a figure on par with 2013.
NYRA Committee Eyes House Rule on 'Stacking'
A New York Racing Association committee could recommend to the full board of directors adoption of a house rule to combat use of multiple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
2014 Virginia Racing Dates Still Unresolved
The 2014 racing schedule for Colonial Downs remains in limbo due to a contract stalemate over dates between track management and the Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
Ben's Cat Named Maryland-Bred Horse of Year
King T. Leatherbury's homebred Ben's Cat was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year for an unprecedented third time in the annual poll conducted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
HRRN to Broadcast Penn Racing Challenge
Penn National Gaming announced that the Horse Racing Radio Network will become the exclusive radio home for the remaining five events in the 2014 Penn Gaming Racing Challenge.
La Verdad Favored in Redrawn Barbara Fritchie
Lady Sheila Stable's La Verdad is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the rescheduled $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) set for Saturday, Feb. 22 at Laurel Park.
Like Snow and Ice, Cancellations Piling Up
Harsh winter weather and and poor track conditions have led to the cancellation of almost 70 full racing programs through the first seven weeks of 2014.
Penn National, Beulah Cancel Race Cards
Penn National Race Course and Beulah Park have canceled their Wednesday, Feb. 19 cards because of weather and track conditions.
Pimlico Meet to Feature 25 Stakes Races
The Maryland Racing Commission approved the 2014 Pimlico Race Course spring stakes schedule at its monthly meeting Feb. 18. The headline event of the 10-week meeting is the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) on May 17.
EHV-1 Positive Leads to Quarantine at Parx
Just weeks after a lengthy quarantine ended, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania has locked down two more barns because of a positive test for equine herpesvirus.
Bandbox Wins at Laurel in Eye-Catching Rally
Lightly regarded Bandbox swept six-wide into the stretch and accelerated clear to an open-length win in the $250,000 General George Handicap (gr. III) Feb. 17 at Laurel Park.
Palace Faces Distance Issue in General George
With New York-breds making their presence felt in open company, here comes Palace, who looks to be the class of the $250,000 General George Handicap (gr. III) at Laurel Park Feb. 17.
Monmouth Park Looking for Next Announcer
Monmouth Park is accepting applications for a track announcer after the recent news that Larry Collmus has accepted the same position at Churchill Downs.
Laurel Park, Penn National Cancel Live Racing
Add Laurel Park and Penn National to the list of tracks that have canceled racing Friday, Feb. 14, due to a winter storm that hit the Northeast.
Weather Plays Havoc With Racing Calendar
The harsh winter of 2014 continues to take its toll on U.S. racing, leading to a handful of cancellations at tracks in Kentucky, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast as a result of a winter storm or subfreezing temperatures.
Weather Leads to More Cancellations
Due to snow in the Baltimore, Md., and Washington D.C. area, live racing at Laurel Park has been canceled for Thursday, Feb. 13. The New York Racing Association announced there would be no Friday racing at Aqueduct.
Winning Image Seeks First Graded Stakes Win
Winning Image has won eight stakes during six seasons, but connections of the 7-year-old mare hope she can add a graded victory to her ledger in the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap (gr. II) Feb. 15 at Laurel Park.
Another Storm Impacts North American Racing
With the Mid-Atlantic region preparing for the worst storm of 2014, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has canceled live racing for Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 12-13.
Even Echo Added to Triple Crown Early Noms
The nomination of a 3-year-old Thoroughbred to the 2014 Triple Crown races received via "late mail" has lifted the overall total for early nominations to the coveted three-race series of American classics to 414.
Couple Banned for Eight Years Have Hearing
A husband and wife that have been banned from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for more than eight years in connection with a horseman's group civil lawsuit finally had their appeal heard Jan. 29.
Truesdail Labs to Handle Maryland Drug Tests
In Maryland's efforts to comply with the Mid-Atlantic Uniform Medication and Drug Testing program, the Maryland Board of Public Works has approved a five-year contract with Truesdail Laboratories of Tustin, Calif.
Report Reflects Competition Faced by Delaware
Total on-site pari-mutuel wagering at Delaware Park in 2013 totaled $149.2 million, down 4.1% from $155.5 million in 2012, according to the annual report released Feb. 6 by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.
Penn National, Charles Town Cancel Feb. 5
Inclement weather has led to the cancellation of racing Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.
Racing, Others Oppose VLT Revenue Shift in WV
Racing stakeholders and government officials Feb. 4 publicly stated their opposition to legislation that would shift 15% of video lottery and table games revenue to fund other programs in West Virginia.
WV Court Upholds Penalties for Trainer Grove
A circuit court in West Virginia has upheld the penalties levied against trainer Chris Grove for a Class 1 positive at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in 2012.
Charles Town Cancels Feb. 4 Card
Due to the winter weather having moved through the region Feb. 3 and anticipated for the evening of Feb. 4, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races has cancelled its live racing program scheduled for Tuesday.
Petionville Moves to Maryland's Murmur Farm
Petionville has arrived at Audrey Murray's Murmur Farm in Darlington, Md., for the 2014 breeding season after standing in Pennsylvania the past two years. The veteran Grade 1 sire remains the property of Everest Stable.
Pennsylvania Bill Would Gut Horse Racing Fund
A Pennsylvania lawmaker's proposal to gut the Race Horse Development Fund supported by revenue from slot machines generated a strong response from the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition.
When Is Uniformity Not Really Uniformity?
A Jan. 30 meeting of racing stakeholders in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions showed how difficult it can be to achieve uniformity, even with the best intentions or most basic of regulations.
Several Virginia OTBs Closing During Dispute
With Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA failing to reach a contract agreement on this year's race schedule, the track has decided to temporarily close several off-track betting locations.
Mid-Atlantic Moves Forward With Drug Reform
Racing jurisdictions concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions are finding progress to be a subjective term: Much has been accomplished, but much remains to be done.
State Lobbyists Stay Atop Guild Issues
- By Frank Angst
- Racing, Health, Northeast Region, Midwest Region, West Region, Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic
Amid a changing landscape of funding sources in horse racing, the Jockeys' Guild has turned to state lobbyists to help ensure its interests are considered.
Charles Town Cancels Live Racing for Jan. 28
With another cold blast of air settling in from the north, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races had canceled its live racing program for the evening of Jan. 28.
Trombetta Lands Stakes Double at Laurel Park
Trainer Mike Trombetta had a very good afternoon at Laurel Park Jan. 25, winning the $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes with Extrasexyhippzster then coming right back to take the $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes with Bold Curlin.
Doro Promoted to Racing Secretary at Delaware
Delaware Park announced the promotion of Jerome "Jed" Doro to the position of racing secretary Jan. 22. Doro, 34, was the assistant racing secretary for the past six years.
Veteran Trainer Tom Voss Dead at 63
Veteran trainer Thomas H. Voss, known for both his success in the steeplechase world and with runners on the flat, died Jan. 21 of an apparent heart attack.
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