the horsemen’s newsletter · the horsemen’s newsletter august 2020 vol. 30 • number 7...
TRANSCRIPT
The Horsemen’sNewsletter
August 2020 Vol. 30 • Number 7
Timonium Dates Moved
To Laurel
Continued on Page 2
With the Maryland State Fair having decided not to hold its seven-day race meet at Timonium this year because of COVID-19 considerations, Laurel Park will add those days to its 2020 cal-endar.
Under an executive order signed by Gov. Larry Hogan, racetracks remain unable to be open to spectators, but off-track betting facili-ties and casinos are open with crowd limita-tions and social distancing. The Timonium OTB parlor has been open since June 20, but under the executive order it would have to shut down if live racing were held.
The Maryland State Fair withdrew its appli-cation to the Maryland Racing Commission for this year’s race meet, though officials recently have said they hope to host a scaled-down state fair.
Laurel will race Thursday, Aug. 27, through Saturday, Aug. 29; Thursday, Sept. 3, through Saturday, Sept. 5; and Monday, Sept 7. Timoni-um would have raced Sundays instead of Thurs-days, but Maryland Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra said he wanted to keep continuity with the current weekly racing schedule at Laurel.
The MJC on Aug. 4 announced it will offer nine $100,000 stakes on Labor Day weekend,
The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and The Stronach Group/Maryland Jockey Club have received approval for a transi-tional Lasix-free “pilot program” through 2023 that will facilitate Lasix-free races for 2-year-olds, Lasix-free graded stakes, a minimum number of racing days per week during any MJC meet and a substantial increase in committed funding for the Beyond The Wire aftercare program.
A key component of the agreement is a commitment to a survey study of all 2-year-olds that race in Maryland this year in order to gauge the extent of exercise-induced pulmonary hem-horrage.
The Maryland Racing Commission ap-proved the agreement July 16 pending passage of an emergency regulation that permits Lasix-free races. Approval by the Maryland Adminis-trative, Executive and Legislative Review Com-mittee came on Aug. 2, which allows the MJC to begin carding the 2-year-old races Aug. 7 at Laurel Park. They will be written as extras on overnight sheets for the current condition book that ends Aug. 22.
Races for 2-year-olds have not been run in Maryland so far this year. The updated regula-
tion states that no 2-year-old can be administered Lasix within 48 hours of race; the remainder of the current Lasix regulation will not be changed.
From 2021 through 2023, 2-year-old races and graded stakes will be carded Lasix-free.
“I am proud of Maryland’s horsemen for their willingness to help the racing industry work toward a solution to one of our most vex-ing issues,” MTHA President Tim Keefe said. “We continue to believe that the use of Lasix is in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of our horses. This agreement allows us to learn more about the impact of withdrawing this medication on race day and hopefully will contribute to informed future policy and regula-tion. We can now move forward.”
The 2-year-old Lasix restriction is not progres-sive by age; for instance, when a horse turns 3 years of age, it will be permitted to run on Lasix in Maryland under current regulations, except in graded stakes, through 2023. Based on 2019 sta-tistics, roughly 90% of total races in Maryland will continue to be run under the current regulation that permits use of race-day Lasix.
Agreement With TSG Assures 2YO Racing, Expands Schedule
Continued on Page 3
including the Federico Tesio, a “Win and In” prep for the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes Oct. 3, and the Weber City Miss, a “Win and In” prep for the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Both will be held Labor Day, Sept. 7 along with three grass stakes. The Sept. 5 program will feature four stakes, all of them on the dirt.
A revised schedule of stakes for the Preak-ness meet at Pimlico Race Course will be re-leased shortly. It is expected to include multiple stakes that will make up a “Claiming Crown Pre-view” program Oct. 2.
The Pimlico meet will span six days: Thurs-day, Sept. 24, through Saturday, Sept. 26; and Thursday, Oct. 1, through Saturday, Oct. 3. Af-ter the Pimlico meet, Laurel will offer four days of racing each week through November on a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule.
The Maryland Million is scheduled for Sat-urday, Oct. 24.
Race Days, continued from Page 1
Expedited Purse Release Program Speeds
Access To FundsIn September 2016, the Maryland Thor-
oughbred Horsemen’s Association Board of Directors approved implementation of the Ex-pedited Purse Release Program, which speeds the payment of purses to owners of horses that finish first or second in an overnight race after a 72-hour hold.
The program was implemented because of potential or actual delays in the release of purse money be-cause of backlogs in the state-mandated equine drug-test-ing program. De-mands on testing laboratories this year because of COVID-19 test-ing has led to delays in the receipt of results from labs that handle testing for multiple ju-risdictions, including Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The Expedited Purse Release Program has proven very beneficial this year in light of the COVID-19 circumstances. Owners must com-plete, and have notarized, a form to participate. The form can be downloaded at mdhorsemen.com and is available in MTHA offices.
Under the program, the Maryland Jockey Club will release purse money into an owner’s
purse account, excluding monies earned for stakes, immediately after the required 72-hour waiting period after the race has been declared official by the stewards. An owner must ac-knowledge that the purpose of the purse re-lease is to facilitate payment of purse money prior to receipt of drug-testing results.
An owner must agree
that if a drug-testing sample taken from his
or her horse is reported to the Maryland Racing
Commission to be positive for a pro-
hibited substance, the owner, upon written no-tice from the MRC, must repay to the Maryland Purse Account (MPA) the purse money earned and paid. The repayment must occur immedi-ately, and if it does not within 14 days from the date of notice of the positive test, the MPA will notify the MRC and request that the owner’s horse racing privileges be immediately sus-pended until the purse money is repaid.
In addition, Maryland racetracks will not accept entries from an owner or on his or her behalf until the purse money is repaid.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions geared toward the health and safety of the backstretch community, the Horse-men’s Health System is not allowing walk-in patients in the MTHA office in the Laurel Park grandstand at this time.
Our team of MedStar Health doc-tors have offered to see patients on an appointment-only basis on live racing days, which currently are Thursdays through Saturdays into August. Those who make appointments are asked to go to the main grandstand entrance with their Maryland Racing Commis-sion badge so a security guard can es-cort them to the MTHA office.
Please call 410-902-6844 to make an appointment.
Our Doctors Are In, By Appointment
2020 LIVE RACINGCALENDAR
January 2020
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September 2020
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February 2020
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June 2020
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October 2020
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July 2020
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November 2020
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April 2020
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August 2020
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December 2020
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2020 RACING CALENDAR
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Laurel Park (132)Canceled Days Pimlico (6)Timonium (0)
3/20/20 - 5/29/20Canceled racing because of MD Gov. Hogan’s Executive order on Covid-19
2/7/20Canceled racing after 4th race because of wind
January 2020
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5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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May 2020
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September 2020
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February 2020
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June 2020
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28 29 30
October 2020
March 2020
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29 30 31
July 2020
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November 2020
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29 30
April 2020
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August 2020
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30 31
December 2020
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6 7 8 9 10 11 12
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27 28 29 30 31
2020 RACING CALENDAR
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Laurel Park (132)Canceled Days Pimlico (6)Timonium (0)
3/20/20 - 5/29/20Canceled racing because of MD Gov. Hogan’s Executive order on Covid-19
2/7/20Canceled racing after 4th race because of wind
January 2020
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
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26 27 28 29 30 31
May 2020
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September 2020
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February 2020
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June 2020
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28 29 30
October 2020
March 2020
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29 30 31
July 2020
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November 2020
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29 30
April 2020
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August 2020
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30 31
December 2020
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27 28 29 30 31
2020 RACING CALENDAR
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Laurel Park (132)Canceled Days Pimlico (6)Timonium (0)
3/20/20 - 5/29/20Canceled racing because of MD Gov. Hogan’s Executive order on Covid-19
2/7/20Canceled racing after 4th race because of wind
January 2020
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
May 2020
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
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24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
September 2020
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February 2020
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June 2020
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October 2020
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July 2020
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November 2020
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29 30
April 2020
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August 2020
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30 31
December 2020
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27 28 29 30 31
2020 RACING CALENDAR
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Laurel Park (132)Canceled Days Pimlico (6)Timonium (0)
3/20/20 - 5/29/20Canceled racing because of MD Gov. Hogan’s Executive order on Covid-19
2/7/20Canceled racing after 4th race because of wind
January 2020
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
May 2020
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
September 2020
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6 7 8 9 10 11 12
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27 28 29 30
February 2020
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2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
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June 2020
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28 29 30
October 2020
March 2020
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29 30 31
July 2020
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November 2020
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29 30
April 2020
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12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
August 2020
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
December 2020
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
2020 RACING CALENDAR
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Laurel Park (132)Canceled Days Pimlico (6)Timonium (0)
3/20/20 - 5/29/20Canceled racing because of MD Gov. Hogan’s Executive order on Covid-19
2/7/20Canceled racing after 4th race because of wind
The Horsemen’sNewsletter
Published by the
MTHA500 Redland Court – Suite 105, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117;
(410) 902-6842; Fax: (410) 902-6841; E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mdhorsemen.com
Live racing had been held only twice a week since Laurel reopened after the COVID-19 shutdown at the end of May. The move was necessary because Maryland casinos, which provide a substantial share of purse money from video lottery terminals, were shuttered for almost three months.
The agreement provides for a minimum of three live racing days per week during all MJC meets at current purse levels, and on July 23 Laurel Park began racing three programs a week. A revised 2020 calendar calls for racing four days a week in October and November.
The MTHA and MJC are currently working on a revised stakes schedule and stakes purses for the remainder of the year at Laurel and Pim-lico, which will host the Preakness Stakes Oct. 3.
Under the aftercare portion of the agree-ment, TSG has pledged $250,000 each year for Beyond The Wire from 2020 through 2023 and thereafter will match the $11-per-start owner contribution. The money will provide continu-ity for the program and also allow Beyond The Wire to assist its accredited partner farms with infrastructure improvements as needed.
“We are extremely grateful to The Stronach Group for the money it has pledged annually to Beyond The Wire,” said Jessica Hammond, who administers the program. “This will give Maryland Thoroughbreds even more security in regard to a safe and enriching retirement from racing. This is especially comforting in light of
the uncertainties we face with COVID-19. This huge win for our racehorses also wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of MTHA Executive Director David Richardson.”
Beyond The Wire from mid-March until late May lost its primary funding source—the per-start contributions—because live racing was suspended in Maryland because of COVID-19 restrictions. The program, however, continued to accept horses. In 2019, the per-start contribu-tion generated more than $156,000 for Beyond The Wire operations.
“This money will allow us to better support our Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accred-ited facilities, many of whom have interest in expanding to take on more horses,” Hammond said. “More money will also mean that we are better able to compensate facilities for horses that require more care to reach the point of be-ing adoptable.
“With continued donations from owners at the time of their horses’ retirement, coupled with the funding already in place from the MTHA, Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Horse Breeders Association, and small per-start charges to owners and jockeys, this additional money from The Stronach Group will make Beyond The Wire a great example of what is possible when all members of the racing in-dustry make our Thoroughbred racehorses the priority.”
Agreement, continued from Page 1
In late April of this year, the Maryland Thor-oughbred Horsemen’s Association and Mary-land Jockey Club agreed to develop a system through which trainers can access the standard 10% commission from purses in a more timely manner.
The program was developed in anticipation of a return to live racing at Laurel Park after a state-mandated shutdown because of COVID-19 restrictions. Live racing didn’t resume until May 30, but trainers began signing up for the pro-gram after it was announced.
Thus far, almost 25 trainers have signed up. The prompt payments proved beneficial, particularly during the almost two months that Laurel raced only two days a week following the shutdown.
The MTHA Board of Directors unanimously voted to implement the program, which per-mits the automatic deduction by the Horsemen’s
Bookkeeper of the standard 10% gross commis-sion for trainers from all starters that finish first, second or third in all overnight and stakes races after purses are released.
Trainers must enroll in the program in ad-vance. Applications are processed and verified within 30 days of submission of the required paperwork, which includes the enrollment form and an IRS Form W-9. Forms are available in the MTHA office and online at mdhorsemen.com. The MTHA will verify that forms are completed properly and will then transmit them securely to the MJC Bookkeeping department.
Trainers who are successfully enrolled in the program and verified will have funds available similar to the procedures regarding availability of the owners’ funds. The funds will consist of the trainer’s cleared earnings. The program was implemented in response to feedback and sug-gestions by Maryland-based trainers.
The Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association website now offers a portal for online submis-sion of the Layoff Report in six states in the Mid-Atlantic region.
As part of the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Racehorse Fatalities, entries for horses (other than first-time starters) that have not raced for 150 days or more will not be accepted unless the trainer has completed and submit-ted a Layoff Report form to the Equine Medical Director or Chief Veterinarian at each racetrack. Forms must be submitted at least 30 days prior to entry—unless waived by the EMD or Chief Veterinarian—and are valid for 60 days.
Layoff Report forms are available at stable gates, racing offices and horsemen’s offices as well as available for printing at THAracing.com. Written forms should be submitted in a sealed envelope to the racing office or to the email ad-dress for the appropriate jurisdiction. PDF doc-uments, contact information and the aforemen-tioned online submission portal can be found under the Horsemen’s Resources menu at the THAracing.com website.
Please note that if the horse in question is to race out of town, the Layoff Report form must be submitted to officials in that jurisdiction.
150-Day Layoff Reports Should Be Submitted
Online
10% Trainer Commission Program Helps With
Cash Flow During Pandemic
MTHA500 Redland Court, #105
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
August 2020
STANDARDPRE-SORT
US POSTAGE
PAIDPERMIT #15
WESTMINSTER, MD
Board of Directors
Timothy L. Keefe, PresidentLinda S. Gaudet, Vice PresidentDale Capuano, Vice PresidentMichael F. Horning, TreasurerKatharine M. Voss, Secretary
A. Ferris Allen, IIIR. Larry Johnson JoAnn Hayden
Mark B. LapidusHugh I. McMahonH. Graham Motion
Charles J. ReedPhilip B. SchoenthalMichael J. Trombetta
Industry Scholarship Deadline Now Set For September 1
At least $20,000 or more will be distributed this year through the Mary-land Thoroughbred Industry Scholarship Fund, including the Eddie Mc-Mullen and Lucy Acton Memorial scholarships.
The scholarship program is a joint venture between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Racing Media Association, Maryland Jockey Club and various other individual donors. The program is designed to provide mean-ingful financial assistance to currently en-rolled students who are active members of the Maryland Thoroughbred racing industry.
If you are a backstretch employee, work on a Thoroughbred farm or with-
in the Maryland Thoroughbred racing industry, and you are enrolled in school this fall, you may qualify for financial assistance. The deadline for application is Sept. 1.
Scholarship recipients will be selected by a committee made up of representatives from each contributing organization. Scholarships
are paid directly to the college or university upon qualification.The application is available at www.mdthoroughbred-
scholarship.com. It requires a cover letter, two letters of rec-ommendation, a student’s official course schedule, and an
essay in response to a question. Documents can be uploaded on the website using the form or mailed to Scholarships, 500
Redland Court, Suite 105, Owings Mills, MD 21117. For more informa-tion call (410) 902-6842.
It is imperative that all those who work in the sta-ble areas at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course
adhere to The Stronach Group’s safety proto-cols regarding protective masks or other face
coverings. Anyone entering either facility must wear a face mask at all times.
The masks have been distributed to backstretch workers, trainers, assis-tant trainers and exercise riders. If you
need one please see a member of the MJC security team.
MTHA arranged for the making and ship-ment of reusable face masks for those on the back-
stretch. The equipment was manufactured by Cathy Morse and Laura Bravo and funded by the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation.
Don’t Forget Your Masks
MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY