Maryland Jockey Club

The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) announced Tuesday that it had accepted the entry of Medina Spirit (Protonico) for Saturday's GI Preakness S. Trainer Bob Baffert revealed Sunday that Medina Sprit had tested positive for the prohibited medication betamethasone after winning the GI Kentucky Derby, which put his appearance in the second leg of the Triple Crown in doubt. The MJC, which operates Pimlico for The Stronach Group (TSG), had the option of banning all entries from Baffert. Following the announcement of the drug positive, Churchill Downs said that it would...

Mounting problems that have forced the closure of the main dirt track at Laurel Park are now tentatively anticipated to be fixed by the start of June. But difficulties related to the sourcing and testing of materials for the base and cushion are keeping the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) from setting an exact timetable for the return of racing and training at its primary venue. On Thursday, the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) met at Laurel for the board's first in-person monthly meeting since the onset of the pandemic. But Laurel's...

Edited Press Release The reconstruction of the Laurel Park dirt surface began in earnest April 17 as heavy machinery began removing the cushion from the base from the rail out. Maryland Jockey Club Track Superintendent Chris Bosley said that over the next several days the cushion will be removed and the base will be inspected to determine if there are any deficiencies. Bosley, who has been in contact with Glen Kozak, who oversees racing surfaces for the New York Racing Association, said the MJC is in the process of locating...

Live racing will be cancelled from Saturday, Apr. 17 through Monday, Apr. 19 at Laurel Park due to the ongoing evaluation of the main track surface conditions, the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST RACING announced Thursday. As part of regular track maintenance, the MJC identified Apr. 14 that the main track had not responded sufficiently to wintertime cushion repairs. Gallops will be allowed during an abbreviated training schedule Friday, Apr. 16. Due to the uncertainty of the timeline to rehabilitate the main track surface cushion at Laurel Park, 1/ST RACING...

As a result of the ongoing pause of live racing at Laurel Park through Sunday, Apr. 4, the Maryland Jockey Club has pushed its Spring Stakes Spectacular program back one week to Saturday, Apr. 24. All seven stakes worth a total of $750,000 in purses originally scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 17 will be run on the new date with a similar 12:40 p.m. post time. Nominations for all stakes are due Saturday, Apr. 3. The Spring Stakes Spectacular is led by the $125,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8...

The Preakness Stakes card will be run in front of a limited crowd of 10,000 when it returns to its traditional date May 15 at Pimlico, 1/ST and the Maryland Jockey Club announced Tuesday. The decision to include fans was made in consultation with, and by approval of, local and state health and governmental authorities and includes the approval for a limited number of fans for Black-Eyed Susan Day May 14. A limited number of tickets will go on sale to the public Apr. 5. Tickets will be available for...

Laurel Park's 19-spring meet will feature a seven-race stakes schedule worth over $750,000 and highlighted by automatic-qualifying races for the GI Preakness S. and GII Black-Eyed Susan S. Co-headlining the stakes program are the $125,000 Federico Tesio S. for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles and the $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies at about 1 1/16 miles. The Tesio serves as a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the May 15 Preakness and the Weber City Miss is a 'Win and In' event for the May...

With much of the country plagued by continued winter weather, Laurel Park's Friday card is the latest to fall victim to freezing temperatures and unsafe racing conditions. With freezing rain, snow, and ice in the Mid-Atlantic region Friday, Feb. 19, the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) has postponed live racing Friday and will run the entire 10-race card Thursday, Feb. 25. The MJC's OTB network, including Pimlico Race Course, will remain open for simulcasting. However, the weekly national Stronach 5 wager has been cancelled as Laurel was to have hosted the...

Laurel Park was forced to cancel racing Sunday for a second straight day due to winter weather. On Saturday it pushed back its Winter Sprintfest program, featuring the GIII Runhappy Barbara Fritchie S. and GIII General George S., until next Saturday, Feb. 20. Racing is currently scheduled to be held on Monday, Presidents Day, with a first post of 12:25 p.m.

Despite paying more than $20,000 monthly to exterminators to try and quell an ongoing rat problem on the Laurel Park backstretch, the infestation has persisted, leading track management to seek additional professional help by soliciting new bids from additional companies. Sal Sinatra, the president of the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC), which owns both Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, disclosed the plan of action during the Jan. 28 Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) meeting. Sinatra has mentioned the track's efforts to control the rats at previous MJC meetings. But when he didn't...

Trainer Marcus Vitali started a horse Monday at Turf Paradise, finishing third in the Hank Mills Sr. S.s with Be Gone Daddy (Scat Daddy) in what was his first start since July 21, 2019. Vitali's career has been marked by numerous drug violations, suspensions and bans. His career stalled in 2019 when, in mid-July, he was suspended for 365 days by the Delaware Racing Commission for "interfering with and impeding an investigation being performed by the DTRC investigator along with Delaware Park Security staff." Delaware racing officials alleged that Vitali...

Five-pound apprentice jockey Alexander Crispin followed up a triple-win day at Laurel Saturday with a four-win day at the Maryland track Sunday. The 22-year-old native of Puerto Rico now has eight wins over the first three days of Laurel's 2021 winter meet. "I feel pretty good on how things are going. All the hard work is paying off," Crispin said. "I really appreciate all the trainers and owners giving me the opportunity. So far so good. Everything's been good. I appreciate everything that's going on today and the past few...