Laurel

Brittany Russell had every reason to expect that she was going to have a good run at Laurel when the current meet began Oct. 8. She is a high-percentage trainer and knew that several of her horses were sitting on winning races. But the 31-year-old, who has been on her own for less than three years, never could have expected what was about to unfold. No one could have. Through Dec. 17, Russell has won 22 of her 42 starts at Laurel, putting her winning percentage at 52% for the...

Aqueduct and Laurel both canceled their race cards Thursday after a winter storm hit the east coast Wednesday evening and continued into Thursday morning with rain, snow and heavy winds. In New York snow totals of 9 to 12 inches were expected with wind gusts reaching 50mph. There was also a coastal flooding warning for Queens. Racing will resume at Aqueduct Friday with first post at 12:20 p.m. Living racing also resumes in Maryland Friday with first post at 12:25 p.m.

7th-Laurel, $50,442, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($62,500), 10-23, 2yo, 6f, 1:08.75, ft, 4 lengths. JAXON TRAVELER (c, 2, Munnings--Listen Boy {SP}, by After Market) was off at 2-5 to remain unblemished in his brief career and made light work of a first-level allowance Friday at Laurel, winning as he pleased by four lengths. Having graduated by 10 lengths at first asking Sept. 25, the $80,000 KEESEP yearling turned $140,000 OBS Spring breezer flew the gates and was soon in front, skipping along easily through an opening quarter in :22.19 (60-foot...

One day after Bill Finley wrote about inconsistencies in timing at a handful of racetracks in the U.S.--both big and small--in Wednesday's TDN, Pat Cummings, the Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, has penned a piece of his own, explaining why accuracy in timing is paramount to the game and offering a framework for how to move forward. "The state of race timing in America is not improving as the years pass. It is getting worse," writes Cummings, who served as the director of racing information for Trakus for...

Pending further developments in ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, officials at the Maryland Jockey Club have announced that its existing jockey quarantine policy will remain in place through September. Jockeys that are currently riding out of state and come to Maryland racetracks are required to quarantine for 14 days from their return from another state and must produce a negative COVID test obtained within 72 hours of riding a race in Maryland. Racing on the Maryland circuit continues at Laurel Park, which will host the state's first stakes races since the pandemic...

The Maryland Jockey Club has announced that beginning Friday, July 17, jockeys who enter another racetrack's jockey quarters will not be permitted to ride in Maryland unless they self-quarantine for 14 days and obtain a negative COVID-19 test. Jockeys outside the state of Maryland will not be allowed to work or gallop horses at Laurel Park or Pimlico Race Course. Jockeys located in Maryland who work or gallop horses outside the state will not be allowed to ride, gallop or work horses at Laurel or Pimlico unless they self-quarantine for...

Keeneland Race Course will be seeking a short summer race meet after losing its spring season to COVID-19 closure. Yet management at the Lexington track is trying to be mindful that such a move would have a ripple effect not only on Ellis Park, which traditionally has the Kentucky circuit all to itself during that time frame, but also the horse populations and stakes programs at Saratoga and Del Mar, the bi-coastal heavyweights that dominate American racing in the mid-July through Labor Day window. "We're looking to run an abbreviated...

The Maryland Jockey Club has released a spring condition book for Laurel Park covering a period of 15 days ahead of the still-undetermined resumption of live racing in the state. Specific dates have not been set. As part of Gov. Larry Hogan's statewide shutdown, live racing was paused in Maryland following the Mar. 15 program at Laurel out of concerns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Highlighting the early condition book is the highly anticipated seasonal debut of racing over Laurel's turf course. A total of 148 races and 42 substitute...

While eager to see the return of live racing at Laurel, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Tim Keefe knows that the belt-tightening may not end any time soon. Casino revenues account for a large portion of the purse money for the Maryland tracks and its likely that the state's casinos will be closed for several more months. "It certainly is a concern and something on our minds," Keefe said. "Nearly70% of our purse revenues are derived from the casinos. With them being closed down, obviously it is a big concern...

With only a handful of tracks still racing due to the coronavirus, wagering on the sport took a huge hit in the month of March, falling by 22.58% over 2019 figures. A total of $731 million was bet during the month, a $214 million drop from 2019 figures. The numbers were released Friday by Equibase. "Obviously, it was a tough month," said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. "As damning as these number appear, the No. 1 priority right now is the health and safety of our employees. We're like...

In light of the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks, and simulcast betting facilities to the general public indefinitely. "This situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically," Hogan said. "These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe." The emergency order, which takes effect at midnight Monday, affects Thoroughbred facilities Laurel, Pimlico and Timonium and harness tracks Rosecroft...

Maryland lawmakers have introduced a bill, the Racing and Community Development Act of 2020, that would fund renovations at Laurel and Pimlico, ensuring that the GI Preakness S. will remain at Pimlico. The bill calls for the Maryland Stadium Authority to oversee the project and to raise $350 million to do so through the sale of bonds. The future of the Preakness had been in doubt when officials with The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel and Pimlico, made it known that they were interested in moving the race to Laurel....