Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

Record gaming revenue in May fuels Purse Dedication Account

Details: 08 Jun

Maryland’s six casinos set a single-month gaming revenue record of $172.39 million in May, the second time in three months a record has been set, and the number is reflected in a strong figure for the Purse Dedication Account that is funded by revenue from video lottery terminals.

The previous single-month revenue record of $169.17 million was set in March 2021, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming statistics.

The PDA, 80% of which is dedicated to Thoroughbred racing, collected $6.90 million in May, up from $6.64 million in April and $6.58 million in March. The Thoroughbred share in May was $5.52 million, and thus far for calendar year 2021, $24.08 million has been generated for Thoroughbred racing.

Maryland State Fair Offering Barn Awards

Details: 05 Jun

The Maryland State Fair at Timonium, which currently is housing more than 550 horses from Laurel Park, will begin recognizing the “best kept” barns beginning the week of June 6.

Based on judging by Fair officials, the trainer whose stabling and maintenance of the road area is selected as best will be awarded $400, which will go to the staff of the trainer. There will be only one award per stable.

Match Series Heads To Round Two

Details: 05 Jun

The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH) continues Sunday, June 13, at Pimlico Race Course with the $100,000 Shine Again Stakes, the second of six stakes in the Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt division for 2021.

The Shine Again, originally scheduled to be run at Laurel Park at seven furlongs, will be a six-furlong event. The Maryland Jockey Club Racing Office received 19 nominations, including several horses that competed in the May 15 Skipat Stakes, the first race of the division.

Pennsylvania-bred Chub Wagon, winner of the Skipat, ran her career record to six wins in six starts. The 4-year-old filly based at Parx Racing was entered in her first graded stakes, in New York June 5, but her connections indicated she would scratch and race in the Shine Again.

Training Moves To Pimlico and Timonium

Details: 05 Jun

The post-Preakness environment in Maryland was one of transition, as more than 700 horses based at Laurel Park began shipping to Pimlico Race Course, and a week later to the Maryland State Fair at Timonium.

The move was necessitated by a major overhaul of the Laurel Park dirt surface. The last day of limited training at Laurel was May 25—the day after horses were cleared to travel to and stable at Timonium.

June 2021 Newsletter Available

Details: 01 Jun

The June 2021 edition of the Horsemen's Newsletter is now online and available for download. To view this edition click here

The Horsemen's Newsletter is published monthly by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and is mailed to licensed owners and trainers in the state of Maryland.

MRC approves Pimlico extension, requests timeline

Details: 27 May

The Maryland Racing Commission May 27 granted the Maryland Jockey's Club request to extend the transfer of Laurel Park's racing dates to Pimlico Race Course through June 30, and also asked the MJC for a schedule of the extensive work being done to overhaul the dirt surface at Laurel.

The MJC earlier was permitted to move the last few weeks of the Laurel spring meet to Pimlico, which began its meet early on April 22. Should it be necessary to continue racing at Pimlico beyond June 30, a request to the MRC would be necessary.

MRC Executive Director Mike Hopkins said that if the weather cooperates, the agency was told the project should be completed by the end of June. MJC President Sal Sinatra, who credited all parties involved with the transfer of horses and backstretch employees from Laurel to Pimlico and the Maryland State Fair at Timonium, said the hope is the project is finished by July 1.