Just Howard, weather big winners: The week in social media

by | Jul 26, 2019 | Breaking, Business, Regionwide, Top Stories

Just Howard
File photo of Just Howard by Laurie Asseo.

A Maryland-bred found glory at Monmouth Park, weather won, and Maryland racing’s first Community Day was held at Laurel Park.

Here’s what the racing world has been talking about on social media over the past week:

Just Howard scores in G3 Oceanport

A Maryland-bred took his place in the spotlight over the past weekend when Just Howard charged to glory in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Graham Motion, Just Howard slammed his head down at just the right time as the field hit the wire in the Oceanport Stakes. The five-year-old son of English Channel bested his nearest challenger, Divisidero, by a determined bob of the head, collecting his fourth victory in a stakes event. With jockey Trevor McCarthy aboard, Just Howard completed the 1 1/16-mile test in a final time of 1:42.62 over the firm turf course.

Bred by Howard M. Bender — for whom he is named — and owned by Skeedattle Stables, Just Howard possesses a current record of six wins from twenty lifetime starts and has banked earnings of $465,405.

Weather wins!

The weather outside was frightful…ly  hot last weekend, and that led to cancellations everywhere.

Parx Racing, Penn National, Delaware Park, and Laurel Park all canceled their Saturday cards. The last-named of those also canceled its Sunday card, as did Monmouth Park.

Oh, and about Monmouth. The track ran two races on Saturday — even though its nearby competitors had packed it in — then shut it down for 4 1/2 hours before resuming a shortened card at 6:00, with the track’s signature event, the G1 Haskell Invitational, going off just after 8:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Community Day cleans up at Laurel Park

Laurel Park hosted its first Community Day on Tuesday, July 23, and the inaugural event proved to be a success.

The Maryland Jockey Club partnered with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association in order to make their vision of Laurel Park’s Community Day possible. The event was created in order to celebrate the workers on the backstretch and recognize their hard work and dedication that has helped play a role in the success of Maryland racing.

It was an event filled with fun activities, including a dunk tank that generated proceeds that were donated to Maryland’s Thoroughbred aftercare program, Beyond the Wire. A barbeque was also held for the event, along with various games such as basketball, volleyball, and other yard games. There were also giveaways, raffles, prizes, and awards that were handed out to those who had the best dorm and best barn turnout.