MJC Hopes to Alter 2015 Laurel Racing Dates
Jun 2, 2015 18:30:11 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jun 2, 2015 18:30:11 GMT -5
It's true about Colonial and I think this is good for local horsemen (CC?) And Laurel has maybe the best turf course in the country!
MJC Hopes to Alter 2015 Laurel Racing Dates
By Tom LaMarra
Bloodhorse
If the Maryland Racing Commission approves, Laurel Park will be offering live racing much sooner than early August as originally planned.
Maryland Jockey Club vice president and general manager Sal Sinatra June 2 said the plan is for Laurel to reopen July 3 and race mostly three days a week through the end of the year with the exception of the seven-day meet at the Maryland State Fair at Timonium.
Laurel earlier was granted MRC approval for 11 days of live racing from Aug. 1-23, followed by its regular late summer/fall meet from Sept. 10-Dec. 31. The MRC will be asked to approve the new schedule at its June 16 meeting.
"Maryland had that 10-year agreement with Colonial Downs in Virginia, but Colonial Downs isn't running," Sinatra said. "And we also have that Gulfstream Park-type turf course at Laurel that we don't use (in the spring and summer)."
The MJC won't be adding racing days. Instead, it will reduce regularly scheduled four-day racing weeks in the fall to three-day weeks at Laurel.
Sinatra said he hopes to try twilight Friday racing at Laurel in the summer to encourage attendance. The other two racing days would be Saturday and Sunday, which could be a family day with various activities.
Sinatra and other officials with The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, earlier said they planned to apply for live racing in June and July in 2016. The current situation in the Mid-Atlantic region led to the request to add more summer racing this year.
Pimlico ends its live meet June 6. Given the short turnaround, the first condition book for Laurel already has been posted at Equibase.com.
MJC Hopes to Alter 2015 Laurel Racing Dates
By Tom LaMarra
Bloodhorse
If the Maryland Racing Commission approves, Laurel Park will be offering live racing much sooner than early August as originally planned.
Maryland Jockey Club vice president and general manager Sal Sinatra June 2 said the plan is for Laurel to reopen July 3 and race mostly three days a week through the end of the year with the exception of the seven-day meet at the Maryland State Fair at Timonium.
Laurel earlier was granted MRC approval for 11 days of live racing from Aug. 1-23, followed by its regular late summer/fall meet from Sept. 10-Dec. 31. The MRC will be asked to approve the new schedule at its June 16 meeting.
"Maryland had that 10-year agreement with Colonial Downs in Virginia, but Colonial Downs isn't running," Sinatra said. "And we also have that Gulfstream Park-type turf course at Laurel that we don't use (in the spring and summer)."
The MJC won't be adding racing days. Instead, it will reduce regularly scheduled four-day racing weeks in the fall to three-day weeks at Laurel.
Sinatra said he hopes to try twilight Friday racing at Laurel in the summer to encourage attendance. The other two racing days would be Saturday and Sunday, which could be a family day with various activities.
Sinatra and other officials with The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, earlier said they planned to apply for live racing in June and July in 2016. The current situation in the Mid-Atlantic region led to the request to add more summer racing this year.
Pimlico ends its live meet June 6. Given the short turnaround, the first condition book for Laurel already has been posted at Equibase.com.
