Racing at Laurel Park Canceled April 27 Amid Conflict

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Racing at Laurel Park Canceled April 27 Amid Conflict
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Photo: Maryland Jockey Club
Racing at Laurel Park

A resumption of racing by the Maryland Jockey Club April 27 at Laurel Park was canceled after the card failed to attract sufficient entries April 22.

In a statement issued late Saturday, the Maryland Jockey Club, which is operated by 1/ST Racing, expressed confidence in the Laurel Park racing surface, which has come under criticism after more than routine maintenance has been necessary over the past two years. A recent number of equine racing fatalities at the Maryland track is a concern for the horsemen and the track operator.

In its statement, the MJC wrote, "Even though the track surface is within industry standards certain horsemen have determined not to submit entries for this Thursday's racing card. Hopefully after reviewing the facts live racing will proceed."

MJC cited the testing of the Southern California-based racing surface consultant Dennis Moore, who the operator said conducted a comprehensive battery of tests on-site in Maryland over a three-day period "to ensure the safety of our racing surface." The MJC said those tests yielded results "all within industry norms. Based on these tests and their professional knowledge, our track experts have advised that there are no issues with the track and that it is safe to race and train."

Lacey Gaudet, a Maryland-based trainer, questioned the track operator's track-surface communication with horsemen, tweeting, "Why were (horsemen) not debriefed on everything they say was done here? Where is the transparency to the (horsemen) instead of just the media?"

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On April 23, jogging is the only equine training permitted on track at Laurel Park and at MJC's Pimlico Race Course, according to a tweet from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

"No works at Laurel or Pimlico—apparently no issue with surface at the latter—and no gate schooling at either track. ... Interpret as you wish," the MTHA tweeted.

MJC cited equine fatality rates provided by Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, director of equine safety and welfare for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, as Laurel's fatality rate this year as 1.3 horses per 1,000 starts since Jan 1. Those statistics are below those from last year's fatality rate through the same time period of 1.98 per 1,000 starts, Durenberger noted via the MJC statement.

"We hope that all stakeholders will be able to come to a consensus and adopt the enhanced veterinary and safety protocols that have been implemented with great success in California. MJC has made repeated requests of the horsemen and are still waiting for their approval to be able to move forward with their implementation," the MJC statement said.

Equine fatalities are down in California since a spike of catastrophic injuries at Santa Anita Park, another 1/ST Racing track, in early 2019. The collective efforts of tracks, maintenance crews, the California Horse Racing Board, horsemen, and veterinarians are widely credited for the drop in fatalities in that state.

"While we all know that catastrophic injuries will not be eliminated completely it is clear from the above that our track is not the issue, and we urge the commission and the (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association) to take advantage of the proven enhancements to improve horse safety," the MJC statement concluded.

MJC said its racing office will take entries Sunday for planned racing April 28.

The Maryland Racing Commission has called an emergency hearing April 25 at 11 a.m. ET at Laurel.

"We encourage all who care about MD Racing to appear," MRC commissioner Bobby Lillis tweeted. "Your voice is important, this will be an opportunity to be heard. Safety and welfare of our horses and jockeys has been and will ALWAYS be our priority."