Magna Selling Laurel Park ???

According to this article, Laurel Park could be sold as part of the debt reduction plan for Magna Entertainment. It is odd that this information would be released today, considering that yesterday they proposed slot machines at that facility (per the referendum on the 2008 ballot). Maybe they know something the rest of the public does not?????

Crabs, Beer, and Free Admission

One week from today, Laurel Park will open for a 10 day late summer meet. Our good friends at the Maryland Jockey Club are doing a decent job at marketing this meet. Over the past week I have heard a number of radio commercials geared toward a wide range of fans. On the talk radio channels, they advertise twilight racing, free admission, and great drink specials. On the sports talk radio shows the emphasis is on the "10 days of racing at 10 percent". Today I received a post card with all the above mentioned marketing gimmicks plus they will be having an "All You Can Eat" crab feast on August 17th, and 2 for 1 beers and $2 frozen drinks during all twilight racing.

Now this may not seem like much, but I give a lot of credit to the guys at the Jockey Club for trying hard to bring fans to the track during such bleak times. Also, a $45 all inclusive crab feast in Marland is like all you can fillet mignon for the rest of the world!

Less Money at Laurel this Fall

Last month, the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced that they were going to reduce purses and cut the stakes schedule for the remainder of the 2007, as the industry faces a $3 million shortfall in this years purse account. Today, the Maryland Racing Commission approved the fall stakes schedule for Laurel Park with 11 less stakes races and about $1.5 million less in purses. In addition, the Maryland Horse Breeders' Association decided to stop paying bonuses to Maryland-breds that win in open stakes.

The changes are as follows:

--The cancellation of 11 stakes: Charles Hadry, Gala Lil, Martha Washington, Japan Racing Association, Kattegat's Pride, Anne Arundel, Laurel Turf Cup, April Run, Stefanita, Toddler, and Steward Mitchell.

--Reduction on the purses of 16 other stakes: Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash, John Schapiro, Sonny Hine, Dave¹s Friend, Mr. Diz, Deputed Testamony, Gin Talking, Oliver's Twist, Find Handicap, All Brandy, Northern Dancer, Jennings Handicap, Geisha, Squan Song, Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship, and Maryland Juvenile Championship.

When you reduce purses for a Grade I, and cut black type races from the schedule, you are not going to have trainers knocking down the door for stalls. If you think this is bad, wait until 2008!

Ten Days at 10 Percent

In a bold move, the Maryland Jockey Club has announced “Ten Days at 10 Percent—Racing’s Best Bet.” During the Laurel Park summer meet (August 10-23), the takeout will be cut almost in half.

“We want to get people focused on the Maryland product during a very competitive period,” said Maryland Jockey Club President Lou Raffetto. “We hear a lot of talk about what reduced takeout can do for business and this seemed like the perfect time to experiment with the concept.”

The takeout will be 10 percent on all bets on all live races conducted at Laurel, plus the legislated percentage to be allocated to the Maryland Million Fund, resulting in a blended rate of approximately 11.4 percent.

The lower takeout is an even better deal on the trifecta, superfecta and Pick 6, for which the standard takeout rate would have been 25.75 percent. As a result, payoffs on these wagers will be 20 percent greater.

Now the big questions......Will this help increase the handle at Laurel? Will they continue this through Timonium, Laurel Winter, and Pimlico Spring meets? Will they still try to attract horse betters if a slot machine bill passes early next year?

Final question.......Will the (assumed) increase in wagers make up for the lost revenue?

Laurel (Winter) Meet Comes To A Close

Real busy racing weekend here in Maryland. The Laurel winter meet wraped up, and I think I am the only person excited for the Pimlico spring meet (starts Thursday). Here are a few updates from this weekend:

- Trainer Rodney Jenkins filly High Moment, pulled off a nice upset win in the 60,000 Dahlia turf stakes at Laurel Park. High Moment paid $36.60 on a $2 bet. Jenkins plans High Moment's next start will come in the Grade III $100,000 Gallorette Handicap on May 19 (Preakness undercard).

- Horacio Karamanos recorded his 1,000th win of his North American career. Karamanos, 33, won nearly 1,500 races in Argentina before moving to South Florida in 2001. Congratulations Horacio!

- The 15-week Laurel Park winter meeting ended Saturday (racing was cancelled on Sunday due to a crazy storm) with Jeremy Rose (jockey), Scott Lake (trainer), and Robert Cole (owner) winning individual titles. The 71-day meet started on January 1.

Weekend Wrap Up

- Ah Day, far back most of the way, rallied on the turn and finished third behind Silver Wagon and Diabolical in the Grade I $300,000 Carter Handicap on the Wood Memorial undercard. Silver Wagon, who won the General George Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Park in his prior start, ran the seven-furlong race in 1:21.46

- My Sister Sue beat the favorite and then survived a claim of interference on her way to a driving victory in Saturdays feature at Laurel, the $100,000 Primonetta Stakes for fillies and mares. My Sister Sue ridden by Katie Lee crossed the finish line first by 4-1/4 lengths and Homesteader rallied to nip Coli Bear by a head to take second. After reviewing the race replay and interviewing the riders, the Laurel Park judges allowed 1-2-3 order of finish remain as it was. The winning time for the six furlong distance was 1:10.71.

“She has a lot of idiosyncrasies but with Katie’s help we got it worked out,” said winning trainer Flint Stites. “She’s on the top of her game right now. She doesn’t like the whip and she doesn’t like to get caught behind horses. She’s got to be outside.”

The win was the first stakes victory for Lee.

“Very exciting,” added Lee.“Flint has helped me out so much ever since I had the bug at Penn National. He has taken good care of me. This is wonderful."

The stewards also entertained a claim of foul against La Chica Rica, the fourth place finisher, who was disqualified for interference and placed fifth behind Scheing E Jet.

This win is a shock to me. When I see a Flint Stites horse ridden by Katie Lee, it is almost guaranteed not to win. We'll I guess they caught lightening in a bottle yesterday. Enjoy....It will probably be another 200 races before you two see the winners circle again!

Maryland Update 4/7

Jeremy Rose will also be out of town Saturday as Laurel’s leading rider will ride a pair of stakes races at Keeneland. He will be riding Call Me Clash, who won the Horatius Stakes at Laurel last month, in the Lafayette Stakes for trainer Scott Lake and Silver Knockers in the Grade I Ashland for Hall of Famer Nick Zito. Rose leads the jockey colony with 69 trips to the winners’ circle, 20 more than Pino with six days remaining in the winter meeting.

King Leatherbury has registered 6,184 victories but just two have been of the Grade I variety. On Saturday, the 74-year-old conditioner will send Ah Day to Aqueduct for the $300,000 Carter Handicap. The Grade I test has attracted six other top older horses at seven-furlongs.

In his last start, the son of Malibu Moon finished a game second in the Grade II General George Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Laurel to Silver Wagon, the likely favorite in the Carter. The race also features Diabolical, who was second in the Grade I De Francis Dash, multiple graded winner Latent Heat and Keyed Entry from the powerful Todd Pletcher stable. Ah Day has won nine of 19 career races for more than $560,000. After capturing six added money races as a three-year-old a year ago, the Leatherbury homebred was an impressive winner of the Fire Plug Stakes on January 20 with Mario Pino, who will accompany the gelding to New York.

Magna and Maryland

In an effort to reduce a heavy debt load, Magna Entertainment Corp. officials plan to put up “for sale” signs on some holdings, maybe some in Maryland. In a special Tuesday teleconference presentation for stockholders and analysts, Magna Chief Executive Officer Michael Neuman said the racetrack owner will evaluate its assets and consider sales of several properties.

Magna Entertainment Chairman Frank Stronach started Tuesday’s teleconference by saying Magna, which owns the Maryland Jockey Club (which owns Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and The Bowie Training Center) is committed to cutting debt in 2007. Magna incurred a net loss of $87.4-million in 2006.

Neuman said Magna would be interested in selling the 162-acre Bowie Training Center in Maryland if an agreement could be reached with state horsemen and officials. As for Magna’s two Maryland racetracks, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, Neuman said the company would like to see more support from state lawmakers, meaning approval of alternative gaming.

“One would hope [racing] can take place [in Maryland] for a long, long time to come. But look, we’re in business to make money and Maryland is surrounded by states that enable tracks to offer alternative gaming,” Neuman said. “Those tracks are using that money to increase purses and that is attracting horsemen out of the state.”

"It’s not enough for Magna to say, ‘Gee, we love racing in Maryland and would like to see it continue forever and ever, amen.’ The state of Maryland has to decide that they want racing to be profitable in Maryland.”

I don't know who would be interested in buying the Magna assets in Maryland, but I sure would like to see some improvements!

Is Polliana the new Rosie ?

Jockey agent John Faltynski thinks he’s found the next Rosie Napravnik. While his star client is out of action, recuperating from a back injury, Faltynski has been booking mounts for 7-pound apprentice Polliana Oliveira, who piloted her first winner in Maryland this afternoon. The 25 year old Polliana has been riding for three weeks. Her plan is to continue at Laurel, then onto Pimlico, and maybe Colonial.

Quick Hits 3/21

- I found a good blog about the Texas horse racing scene. Check out
Jim's Texas Racing Blog. I enjoyed reading his take on issues, and the industry in Texas.

- Maryland is even falling behind in Timber Races. Just Kidding! Here is a little story for my friends that follow the retired thoroughbreds during their second career.

- Jockey Jeremy Rose and trainer Scott Lake teamed up on Sunday to win four races out of eight starters. That is pretty amazing. I guess that is why they are both atop the Laurel standings

Sweetnorthernsaint

I had the opportunity to watch the Johnson Memorial Handicap at Laurel Park today. It was the biggest joke of a race. It was more of an easy work from the gate for Sweetnorthernsaint. "The Saint" ran the one and one eighth mile in 1:51 and won by over four lengths on the muddy sealed track. I don't think Jockey Mario Pino even moved during the race. Now that "The Saint" is $36,000 richer, I wonder what trainer Mike Trombetta has planned next. I think I saw a AOC non winners of 6 in the Pimlico spring book.

Who is this horse ?????

- Trainer Scott Lake sent a 3-year-old gelding named Call Me Clash to Laurel Park on Saturday. The horse shipped in from Philadelphia Park for the $90,000 Horatius Stakes. Call Me Clash led the entire way to beat five others and win by three lengths. In the winner's circle, Lake's Laurel-based assistant Hugh McMahon was asked about the horse, and he said, "This horse shipped in today. I don't know anything about him." McMahon was the trainer of record when Call Me Clash won a 5 1/2 -furlong race on Jan. 5 at Laurel Park......Hmmmmm. Jockey Jeremy Rose, however, rode Call Me Clash in both races.

- The slots bill proposed by Senate President Mike Miller goes to committee tomorrow, but Millers weekend quote was "I predict the bill will pass eventually -- just maybe not this year." - Oh well!

- The rumor around Maryland is that New York and New Jersey will place restrictions on horses from Maryland. The spread of herpes may be a little greater than the press is reporting. Many Maryland owners and trainers are sending horses out of state in preparations for a quarantine.

I Apologize, A Little

I wanted to apologize to the Maryland Jockey Club for my comments two days ago. I have not changed my mind, the promotions are still terrible. But, I have heard a bunch of radio spots in the last few days about this upcoming weekend of racing. The radio spots are great, they make it sound like a day at the track is fun for the entire family (I would agree). They are trying to get the word out, and they are also trying to get people out to the track. However, the free tote bag (after the 5th race for the first 4000 people) will not make people come. Radio ads are a great idea, I just wish you guys had a good promotion, or product to pitch. Keep trying guys, someday you may get it right!

Free Beer !

This past weekend I received my Maryland Jockey Club winter newsletter. This three page full color fold out has all the bells and whistles. Bright color graphics, photos, and big dollar signs on every promotional section. The only problem with this great mailing is that the promotions stink! You would think that an expensive marketing piece like this would have something for all levels of fans. Not just the big time gamblers that already go to the track often. I want to believe that The Maryland Jockey Club is trying to win new fans, and make the casual fan a regular visitor to the tracks. Let me share some of the non-gambling promotions.

Racing From South America - Wager on races from San Isidro, Argentina, Maronas, and Uruguay. What? I am a big racing fan, and I can care less about South American racing. Even if Invasor returned home I would not watch these races.

Jockey Autograph Session - Meet Maryland racing's all-stars, and have your photo taken with you favorite rider. This is a nice idea. I think a lot of people would be interested in meeting the jockeys. Now all you have to do is show up an hour and a half before the first race. How many people are going to come to the track at 11:00 when the first and only stakes race goes off at 5:00.

Freebie Fridays in February - Free Admission, Free Live Racing Program, Free Draft Beer with the purchase of a draft beer. This is a nice promotion. Going the extra mile for the fans. Between admission and a program, they are saving the fans $4.50. On top of that, it is buy one get one free beer. The only problem is that this should be done on a Saturday in the spring. Or a twilight card around the Pimlico meet. People are not taking off of work for buy one get one free beer. Once again, you are catering to the people who are already going to the track from 12:00-5:00 on Fridays.

I am not a marketing genius, but I can tell you that these promotions are not winning over any casual fans, or brining in new ones. How about twilight racing and a concert after the card for a Friday night. I know my buddies and I would move happy hour to the track. It works great at Belmont. I don't want to bring this all back to slots again.....but people are not coming to the track to watch $5k and $10k claimers everyday. The casual fans want to see the big horses more than 3 days a year. Now that we lost the Pimlico Special, we will have fewer fans at the track this year. Hello... Maryland Jockey Club, work on the racing product, not the free tote bags.

Winter Sprintfest

The Maryland Jockey Club has released the list of nominees for the three stakes that make up the "Winter Sprintfest". The seven-furlong Grade II Barbara Fritchie Breeders’ Cup Handicap and the 1-1/8 mile John B. Campbell will be run on Saturday, February 17. The seven-furlong General George (GII) is slated for Monday, February 19.

The highlight on the cards for me is the General George. Two Laurel Park based four year olds stars, Sweetnorthernsaint, and Ah Day will go head-to-head. In addition to the local stars, Bishop Court and Diabolical have also been nominated.

The Maryland Jockey Club has added some promotions to help lure the fans to the track for the weekend of racing. Autograph Sessions, Preakness ticket drawings, and a special winners circle presentation to last years top Maryland jock, Rosie Napravnik. For the kids, they will have face painting, family fun games, and a free sports bag.

It is sad when you need to run promotions on a day when you have some of the best horses in the country running at your track. Does free admission, a free sports bag, and face painting really bring more people to the track?

Rosie Napravnik Injury Update

The incident occurred one furlong past the finish line when Napravnik’s mount, Look Out Lorie, fell to the ground after finishing second in the $32K allowance. Ryan Fogelsonger’s mount, Known Thief, could not avoid the fallen horse and tripped, sending her rider to the ground. Napravnik, was removed from the racetrack on a stretcher and transported to Laurel-Beltsville Hospital for x-rays on her lower back.

“She is conscious and alert but in a lot of pain,” said John Faltynski, Napravnik’s agent.

Fogelsonger, who appeared shaken, got up and walked off the track under his own power but did take off his final two mounts of the afternoon. “Rosie’s horse went down right in front of us and we didn’t have a chance to avoid them,” Fogelsonger said. “I went head over heels. I don’t think anything is wrong-just really sore. I should be back tomorrow.”

Known Thief got up and ran off. Look Out Lorie was kept on the ground while attendants removed Napravnik from the scene. When the rider was out of the way, Look Out Lorie got to her feet and was transported from the track in the horse ambulance.

"Ah Day is a freak"

"Ah Day is a freak, he moved up from college to the NFL and proved it wasn’t a problem. My horse was just beat by less than three lengths in the Grade I De Francis Dash and ran a perfect race. Ah Day ran by us like we weren’t even running.” - Ryan Fogelsonger, who rode the place horse in the Laurel Fire Plug Stakes

After winning six stakes during his three-year-old campaign, the son of Malibu Moon ended 2006 with a sad performance in the Northern Dancer Stakes. Trainer King Leatherbury gave the gelding two months off and saw Ah Day return the favor with a easy 3-3/4 length victory under jockey Mario Pino.


Leatherbury plans on running Ah Day is the General George Breeders' Cup Handicap (Grade II) at Laurel on February 19.

I watched this horse break his maiden back in November of 2005, and he was so impressive that day, that I made sure to add him to my virtual stable. I have been following his career ever since. He probably will not be the favorite on February 19, so he may be worth a few dollars at the window.

Jeremy Rose

With his home track of Delaware Park closed until the end of April, Jeremy Rose has been riding almost exclusively at Laurel Park in Maryland. Through the first eighteen days of this month, Rose has 15 wins in 54 starts (win 28%), and an in the money percentage of 56% for $331,300. These may not seem to be blockbuster numbers, but what shocked me was that he leads second place jockey Rosie Napravnik in wins, win%, in the money %, and earnings. Last years golden girl and Eclipse Award (Apprentice Jockey) Finalist, Rosie Napravnik has eight more mounts than Rose, and in my opinion "better" mounts. Is Rose that good, or is Napravnik going into the sophomore slump?

Laurel Park

Back in September I posted about The Mall at Laurel Park. Well, it looks like it is going to be a lot more than just a mall. The Laurel Leader is reporting wholesale changes for the racetrack grounds. Apparently, the Maryland Jockey Club (Magna Entertainment) will tear down the current clubhouse and move it to the other side of the the track. It would be nestled among eight retail locations, totaling up to 750,000 square feet, and a 350-room hotel. In addition to the mall, grandstands, and hotel, they will be adding new roads, parking garages, and possible access to the MARC trains (commuter line).

This all sounds great, but will all this happen without slot machines? Stay tuned.....this story is only going to get better!