Racing on Hold at Laurel Park Through at Least Jan. 16

A resumption of racing at Laurel Park has been delayed through at least Jan. 16, according to a social media post from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

Citing notification from the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns and operates Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, the MTHA said the ongoing suspension of racing is "due to a lack of training opportunities and additional track maintenance work to be completed."

Laurel canceled racing all of last week. The Mid-Atlantic region was hit with a couple of winter storms during that time period. No published workouts have taken place at Laurel since Jan. 2, according to Equibase data.

After training was also canceled over the weekend, it was scheduled to take place Jan. 11 at Laurel, according to the MTHA, though without any horses permitted to breeze.

Track maintenance crews at Laurel are seeking to get the main track in top condition after the surface experienced problems in November, during a time when the track had a spike in equine breakdowns. Laurel canceled racing in early December while the track was evaluated by racing surface experts. It reopened in mid-December and approximately 2,000 tons of sand have been added to the racing surface.

Last week, MJC arranged an on-side consultation Monday with track experts Glen Kozak from the New York Racing Association and Jamie Richardson of Churchill Downs.

The MTHA will host an open community meeting with Maryland Jockey Club officials for all Maryland Horsemen to discuss recent developments regarding the racing surface at Laurel in a videoconference Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.