Maryland Business
Laurel adapts Thanksgiving pie tradition
Laurel Park’s longstanding tradition of giving our free Thanksgiving pies gets a new twist in this Covid-19 year without fans.
MJC stakes coordinator Coley Blind to retire
Coley Blind, the longtime stakes coordinator at the Maryland Jockey Club, will retire effective November 1 and be replaced by former trainer Jason Egan.
Aidan Butler named COO of 1/st Racing
Aidan Butler, most recently at Santa Anita, will become chief operating officer of 1/st Racing, the parent of the Maryland Jockey Club.
Great Notion sires Maryland Million bumper crop
More runners sired by stalwart stallion Great Notion are pre-entered for the Maryland Million than by any other stallion.
Ahesahmahk Dahn wins Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award
Maryland Million Ltd. has named City Ranch founder Ahesahmahk Dahn as winner of the 2020 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award.
Fans allowed to return to Laurel Park
For the first time in seven months, fans will be permitted to attend live racing at Laurel Park, albeit in limited numbers.
October tabbed Maryland Horse Month
Gov. Larry Hogan today named October as “Maryland Horse Month.” The month features both the Preakness and Maryland Million.
Fravel: Preakness a “shot in the arm” for Md. racing
Amid a truly uncertain year, the Stronach Group’s Craig Fravel hopes the Preakness provides a “shot in the arm” for his company and for Maryland racing.
Preakness weekend trainer bonus returns
The Maryland Jockey Club will once again offer $100,000 in trainer bonuses over Preakness weekend at PImlico in October.
Laurel to host Virginia-bred stakes
Pending Virginia Racing Commission approval, Maryland’s Laurel Park will play host to five stakes restricted to Virginia-bred or -sired runners.
Opinion: Right call on “Maryland, My Maryland”
The Maryland Jockey Club’s decision to eliminate the playing of “Maryland, My Maryland” is the right call at the right time, our correspondent writes.
Preakness: No more “Maryland, My Maryland”
In the face of the nation’s reckoning with racism, the Maryland Jockey Club will scrap the playing of the controversial state song before the Preakness.
Maryland trainer Jack Kousin passes
Jack Kousin, who took a 30-year detour from his successful training career before returning in 2018, passed away August 25.
No fans at Preakness 145
The 145th Preakness — like this year’s Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby — will be held without fans, the Stronach Group announced Wednesday.
Preakness to anchor all-stakes card
The October 3 Preakness will headline a card with nothing but stakes — 12 of them, seven graded — that caps off a weekend with stakes each day.
Maryland-bred bonuses trimmed for rest of 2020
The state Racing Commission Thursday agreed to trim Maryland-bred bonuses for the rest of 2020 to about 80% of prior levels, a result of the pandemic’s economic effects.
Heavenly Cause, What a Summer enter Md. Hall of fame
The Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame today announced Eclipse champions What a Summer and Heavenly Cause as its newest members.
Preakness winner to get B. C. Classic berth
The winner of this year’s Grade 1 Preakness will get an automatic berth a month later in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic — a first for a Triple Crown race.
Black-Eyed Susan to be run on Preakness day
The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, typically the anchor of the Preakness eve card, will instead take place on Preakness day this year.
MJC sets quarantine period for Colonial Downs jocks
The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) will require jockeys who raced at Colonial Downs to quarantine until August 27 before riding at Laurel Park.
