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.
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.
A booklet put together by several individuals at the forefront of equine medication reform has been prepared for Maryland, which will enact the Mid-Atlantic Uniform Medication and Drug-Testing Program Jan. 1, 2014.
The Maryland Jockey Club has increased the purse for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) from $1 million to $1.5 million, it was announced Dec. 12. This is the first hike for the Triple Crown classic since 1998.
The Maryland Racing Commission Nov. 12 approved the schedules for Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course after the MJC, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and Maryland Horse Breeders Association reached an agreement.
The Maryland Racing Commission Sept. 17 adopted uniform medication and drug-testing rules as part of a push in the Mid-Atlantic region.
After about a year of study and negotiating, Maryland will have a revised Thoroughbred breeding program beginning with the Laurel Park meet that kicks off Sept. 19.
While in recent years horse racing has made strides toward drug reform and uniform medication rules, one only need look at its biggest series, the Triple Crown, to see a lack of consistency.
A trainer who won her appeal of a 2008 ejection from Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was ejected again by the same racetrack for an unrelated violation and has appealed that action.
Seeking to address a rash of fatal breakdowns during the Laurel Park winter meet, the Maryland Racing Commission March 20 revised new claiming rules passed in February.
The West Virginia Racing Commission Feb. 26 approved a resolution agreeing in principle with the effort to bring uniform medication, penalty, and testing rules to racing jurisdictions in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
The Maryland Racing Commission voted Feb. 19 to adopt a uniform equine medication, penalty, and testing program proposed for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racetracks throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Maryland Jockey Club has upped the purse for this year's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico Race Course to $500,000 from $300,000.
The Maryland Jockey Club plans to build a new clubhouse and grandstand at Laurel Park on the opposite side of the existing structures at the track, as well as knock down all existing barns and relocate new ones.
Under a plan submitted to Maryland officials Feb. 1, the Maryland Jockey Club plans to build new stables at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in a first step toward major capital improvements at both tracks.
On the day the recently forged 10-year agreement between stakeholders in the Maryland racing industry received a formal presentation before the Maryland Racing Commission, a little Christmas bonus was included.
The key organizations in Maryland Thoroughbred racing announced Dec. 14 they have struck a 10-year-agreement for racing at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.
Stalled on the cusp of a 10-year deal that could be the foundation for revitalizing the Maryland racing program, the state racing commission has issued a Nov. 30 deadline for the tracks and horsemen to reach a consensus.
After investigating the timing of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat's Preakness Stakes, the Maryland Racing Commission voted unanimously to change the official time from 1:54 2/5 to 1:53, a stakes record.
The Maryland Racing Commission has upheld a decision by Laurel Park stewards to disqualify King and Crusader from a victory in the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship.
Maryland racing industry officials already have scheduled their first meeting to devise a long-term strategy for live racing in the state beyond 2012.
Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course will conduct 146 days of racing in 2012 after the Maryland Racing Commission approved an agreement by the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Dec. 20.
The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association reached an agreement in principal Dec. 17 to race up to 146 days at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in 2012.
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.
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.
Penn National Gaming Inc. has submitted an application to the Maryland Racing Commission to resume operations at shuttered Rosecroft Raceway June 1.
The Maryland Jockey Club submitted an audited financial report March 31 that showed losses for Laurel Park and a small profit for Pimlico Race Course for the final eight months of 2010.
MI Developments chairman Frank Stronach has offered to meet with Maryland horsemen in the wake of a Maryland Racing Commission meeting at which MID and partner Penn National Gaming Inc. were criticized.
The Maryland Jockey Club will receive more than $5 million for operations under the parameters of a negotiated agreement that will maintain a full 146-day live Thoroughbred racing schedule in the state.
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.
There still is no live racing schedule for 2011 in Maryland after a Dec. 21 meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission.
The owners of Laurel Park and Pimlico intend to submit a plan to the Maryland Racing Commission to conduct 77 days of live racing during the first half of the 2011 season.
The head of the company that co-owns Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park said Dec. 2 that he will try to break the impasse threatening the future of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) when he travels to Maryland next week.
Penn National Gaming Inc. said Nov. 30 its joint venture with MI Developments in Maryland will continue, and that it planned to work on an "expedited basis" to devise a 2011 live racing schedule in the state.
Thoroughbred racing in Maryland for 2011 is in limbo after the Maryland Racing Commission rejected the Maryland Jockey Club's plan for 47 racing dates.
Racing in Maryland for 2011 is in limbo after the Maryland Racing Commission Nov. 29 rejected a plan submitted by the Maryland Jockey Club and also rejected owner MI Developments' plan to sell 49% of the tracks to PNGI.
With a Dec. 1 deadline on racing dates looming, Maryland horsemen are advocating a schedule similar to that of 2010 even though a shutdown of Laurel Park for live racing and training is on the table.
The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association have agreed to an 11-day live summer meet at Laurel Park.
The Maryland Jockey Club received approval Nov. 10 from the Maryland Racing Commission to race 58 days at Laurel in the winter/spring of 2010.
As officials in Maryland work to achieve full accreditation for Pimlico Race Course through the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance, the New York Racing Association is anticipating alliance approval for Belmont Park before the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Pimlico Race Course has received "provisional" accreditation from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance because not all documents tied to an inspection were submitted. The documents deal with drug-testing and compliance standards; officials said there are no safety issues at the track.
A Maryland harness track that hasn't offered live racing in almost a year also lost its Thoroughbred simulcast rights April 28 when it was ordered by the Maryland Racing Commission to cease operations.
Pimlico Race Course, home of the grade I Preakness Stakes, will offer a $3.46-million stakes schedule during a 31-day spring meet that runs from April 17-June 7. In a major change, the grade I Pimlico Special is back.
The financial health of Magna Entertainment Corp. could become part of the debate about legalizing slot machines in Maryland, as supporters and detractors ready for a statewide referendum in November.
The Maryland Racing Commission remains committed to regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses, but will delay implementation of a model rule given questions about the rule itself and laboratory testing procedures.
Ron Franklin's exercise rider's license has been restored, but he must wait six months for a decision on his jockey's license.
Ron Franklin, who became a teenage sensation in 1979 when he rode Spectacular Bid to victory in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, is expected to appear before the Maryland Racing Commission Feb. 20 to ask for reinstatement as a jockey.
Maryland's Thoroughbred industry is likely to be downsized considerably beginning in 2008 unless racetracks are allowed more gambling options such as slot machines, a racetrack executive said Nov. 14.
The head of a new Maryland panel designed to better market horse racing said he expects the state legislature to reach consensus on slot-machine legislation next year.
Several departments of Maryland state government including the racing commission will be part of a marketing task force to be announced Monday (Oct. 23) at the commission's monthly meeting.
