Communication and Consistency Stressed At Track Surface Meeting

A meeting to provide an update on the racing surfaces at Laurel Park included a discussion on ensuring trainers and regulatory veterinarians regularly communicate when horses are injured during training hours.

During the June 29 meeting hosted by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and held via Zoom, several trainers said they’ve had horses suffer injuries—some minor and others more serious—during training hours at Laurel. Trainer Lacey Gaudet, a member of the MTHA Board of Directors, said some trainers are scared to breeze horses, and that some horses “don’t come back well” after doing so.