MA Horsemen Have Plan for Multi-Purpose Track
In an attempt to keep Thoroughbred racing alive in Massachusetts, the New England HBPA has formed a coalition that is intent upon building a new, non-profit equine center and racetrack in the state.
Keyword: Lou Raffetto
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Rockingham Park Will Be Sold for Development
An official with Rockingham Park, which remains open for simulcasts but hasn't offered live racing since 2009, confirmed March 24 that the property will be put on the market.
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Horsemen Celebrate Suffolk Homecoming
The sunny disposition of those on track was the polar opposite of the one seen last Oct. 4 for the 2014 meet's closing day, when the dismal crowd figured they were witnessing the bitter end of live racing.
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Suffolk to Subsidize Shipping for Fall Dates
Suffolk Downs, which on Sept. 5 will offer its first live racing program in almost a year, said it will subsidize the shipping of horses from seven tracks in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
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Action on Suffolk Racing Dates Delayed Again
Though Suffolk Downs had published a condition sheet for races Aug. 8, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission July 23 delayed action on the track's application for three live racing dates this year.
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Horsemen Still Split Over 3-Day Suffolk Meet
A day after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission took no action June 11 on the supplemental application by Suffolk Downs for three days of live racing in 2015, local horsemen remained deeply divided on the plan.
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Suffolk Plan: Three Racing Days, Big Purses
New England horsemen have asked Suffolk Downs to request three days of live racing this summer, and with $1.5 million available for purses, pots would average $500,000 per program.
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Plans for Suffolk Downs Meet Remain in Flux
The New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association posted a statement on its website Mar. 24 discounting the likelihood of a 50-day meet operated by horsemen at Suffolk Downs in 2015.
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Horsemen Close to Reopening Suffolk Downs
A deal that would allow horsemen to lease Suffolk Downs and operate a live race meet in 2015 and 2016 appears to be close at hand, representatives said at a hearing of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission Feb. 19.
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Raffetto Joins New England HBPA Effort
Lou Raffetto, former Suffolk Downs vice president of racing, is teaming with the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in its efforts to structure a deal that would restore live racing at the track.
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Morris to Leave Golden Gate Fields for TOC
Joe Morris will step down as general manager of Golden Gate Fields to become president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, The Stronach Group announced April 17.
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Lou Raffetto Resigns as President of TOC
After less than two years on the job, Lou Raffetto announced Feb. 28 that he is stepping down as president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, effective immediately.
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Officials in Talks Over Replacing Hollywood
Like dealing with a bad tooth, California racing representatives are coming to terms with the fact that Betfair Hollywood Park will eventually have to be replaced.
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Deal to Put Santa Anita On TVG Discussed
Racing from Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields would be available on television network TVG under a content swap currently being negotiated, an executive from The Stronach Group told the California Horse Racing Board.
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CHRB Severely Restricts Use of Clenbuterol
The bronchodilator clenbuterol, possibly being misused for its anabolic steroid properties, will be severely curtailed for the next year at all California racetracks.
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CHRB Relaxes 25-Day Requirement on Claimers
The California Horse Racing Board gave final approval April 26 to a rule change that eliminates "jail time" for most horses that are claimed.
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Shirreffs to Chair CHRB Advisory Panel
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.
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Exchange Wagering Grilled at CHRB Meeting
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.
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Stronach Says He Wants to Protect Santa Anita
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.
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California Horsemen Group Submits Signatures
The 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.
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CHRB OKs Lower Bute Level, Claiming Rule
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.
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Lou Raffetto Named TOC President
Lou Raffetto, formerly the chief operating officer and president of the Maryland Jockey Club, has been named president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
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Steeplechase Spring Season Begins March 20
The National Steeplechase Association's 19-race spring season begins March 20 with the traditional Aiken Spring chase in Aiken, S.C.
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Raffetto to Leave Steeplechase Association
The National Steeplechase Association announced that Lou Raffetto will leave his position effective June 30 to pursue other opportunities within the Thoroughbred racing industry.
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Inaugural Steeplechase Championships Saturday
The 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.
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Dragone Ready for MJC Challenge
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.
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Raffetto Out, Dragone in at MJC
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.
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Laurel Readies for Fall Meet After State Fair
Live racing returns to Laurel Park Sept. 5 on the heels of the Maryland State Fair meet, which continues through Sept. 3 at Timonium.
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Results of Laurel Takeout Experiment Called Inconclusive
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.
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Laurel Park Fall Stakes Schedule Approved With Reductions
The Laurel Park fall stakes schedule was approved July 24 at the monthly Maryland Racing Commission meeting.
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Laurel Cuts Meet Takeout to 10% Across the Board
In 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.
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Preakness Card Realizes Small Handle Decline
Though 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).
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Pimlico to Honor Team Barbaro During Preakness Week
The 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.
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Laurel Cancels Sunday's Live Card
A 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.
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Pimlico Special Will Not be Carded in 2007
The grade I Pimlico Special will not be carded in 2007 due to a limited amount of purse money.
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Increased Handle at Laurel Closes Positive MJC Year
Helped by an increase in all-source handle during the fall Laurel Park meeting, wagering involving Maryland Jockey Club racing topped $960 million in 2006.
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10th Jockey Ruled Off By Tracks This Month
Alex 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.
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Barbaro Stakes to Debut at Pimlico in May 2007
The 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.
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Laurel Park Begins 8-Day Meet Wednesday
After 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.
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Laurel's Handle Continues Upward Swing
The 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.
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Pimlico Spring Meet to Open April 20
Live 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.
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Pimlico Spring Meeting Adds 25-Cent Pick Six
Pimlico 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.
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Last Hold Orders Due to Virus Lifted in Maryland
The 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.
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Laurel Handicaps Off Due to Virus Restrictions
The 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.
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MJC Announces Executive Officer Changes
Joseph 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.
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Laurel Park Cancels Sunday Card
For 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.
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Quarantine Lifted at Pimlico; Stakes Rescheduled at Laurel
The 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.
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Horses Entered, But Trainers Holding Their Breath
Maryland 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.
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Laurel Takes 14 Pimlico Entries; EHV-1 Case Confirmed
In 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.
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Pimlico Considers Lifting Quarantine Feb. 4; Stakes Could Be Rescheduled
Maryland 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.
