There were sighs of relief as Laurel Park resumed racing and horsemen praised what they say is an improving dirt racing strip.
The Maryland Racing Commission signed off Thursday morning on allowing racing at Laurel Park to resume on the recommendation of the stakeholders.
Full training at Laurel Park will resume Thursday morning, and if all goes well, the track may resume live racing as early as Saturday.
An 11th-hour deal between the Md. Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Md. Jockey Club provides a way forward for resolving safety concerns.
Tuesday’s emergency meeting of the Maryland Racing Commission, called to address recent equine fatalities at Laurel Park, may draw numerous horsemen.
The Maryland Racing Commission will conduct its own analysis of the Laurel Park dirt track and will not permit racing to resume until it is satisfied.
Recent injuries at Laurel Park stem from issues with the racing surface, Maryland horsemen say — a position the track owner seems not to share.
Two Thursday horse injuries, one fatal, and the Maryland Racing Commission’s intervention led to a supension of racing at Laurel Park.
A wide-open race on paper was anything but on the track, as Lucylou Who dominated the Original Gold Stakes at Charles Town Races.
Patience proved to be the key for young trainer Phil Capuano, who got his first stakes win Saturday, and veteran rider Feargal Lynch, who took the Tesio.