Record Crowd, Record Handle

The 2007 Maryland Million saw a record crowd (26,788) fill the grandstands at Laurel Park. The record attendance contributed to a record handle of $5,985,793. That shattered the previous high set in 2005 by more than $900,000.

"We hear from some people that racing is a dead sport," said Lou Raffetto, the Maryland Jockey Club president and chief operating officer. "Anyone that was in attendance [yesterday] at Laurel Park knows that is the farthest thing from the truth. We had a record crowd together with a record handle, almost a million dollars higher than ever before. The Maryland Million is a small sample of what Maryland racing is capable of when given the financial resources to compete."

Trainer Chris Grove started the day with high hopes for his nine entries........."Everybody came back sound," Grove said. "I'm not unhappy. A lot of trainers here today would like to go home with two seconds and a third. None of the nine raced bad. I can't cry. It was a good day, and we'll fight another day."

Click here for full results of the 2007 Maryland Million

Friday Morning

Here are just a few things to start off your Friday morning.

- Andy Beyer gives a brief history of the Maryland breeding industry.

- Maryland trainer Chris Grove will saddle 9 horse in tomorrows Maryland Million. 3 are favorites!

- 39 stallions will be represented at the 2007 Maryland Million. 17 entries by Not For Love.

If you live in the area, go out to Laurel Park tomorrow and support our horse breeding/racing industry. If you can't make it, check it out on MASN (Mid Atlantic Sports Network).

Maryland Million to be Televised

MASN (Mid Atlantic Sports Network) will produce and televise the 22nd running of the Maryland Million during a special telecast Saturday, October 13. MASN will televise 11 races (2-12) and provide complete coverage of the day of racing from Laurel Park during the 2 hour telecast starting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Anchoring MASN’s coverage of the event from the finish line will be Laffit Pincay III and Caton Bredar. Handicappers Jay Privman and Andy Serling will provide insights and analysis.

"MASN will cover the race from every possible angle with seven cameras, including a jib camera at the finish line. The production and talent of this year’s coverage is unprecedented in the history of the race."

One question to readers.... Does anyone outside of Maryland/DC get MASN?

2007 Maryland Million

This years Maryland Million will have a total of $1.7 Million available for the 12 races on the card. As the week goes on, I plan on posting more about this special day of Maryland racing. For now, here is the bloodhorse story.

And here are the entries!