MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB TO RACE 146 DAYS IN 2011
LAUREL, MD. 12-22-10---Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course will conduct 146 days of racing in 2011, the same number that was scheduled for this year after the Maryland Jockey Club and its owners, MI Developments and Penn National Gaming, worked out an agreement with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) and Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) at a Wednesday morning meeting in Annapolis with Governor Martin O’Malley.
The plan still needs to be approved by the Maryland Racing Commission, who will be meeting at Laurel Park at 4:30 this afternoon.
“This is a good day for the entire industry,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “I would like to personally thank Governor O’Malley and chief legislative officer Joe Bryce for their support during this process. This discussion provides a foundation for continuing efforts to create a long-term solution to restoring Maryland racing to prominence.”
The Maryland Jockey Club was founded in 1743 and is the longest standing organization in the state. Pimlico Race Course, home to the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, opened its doors in 1870 and is the second oldest track in the country. Laurel Park first appeared on the racing scene in Oct. 1911. The company also operates the Bowie Training Center in Prince George’s County.
The Maryland Jockey Club will conduct a winter meeting at Laurel Park, a spring campaign at Pimlico Race Course and a fall meeting at Laurel Park. There will be no live racing at the major Maryland tracks during the summer. The Bowie Training center will remain open for year-round training. The Laurel Park winter stand will begin Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011 with live racing taking place four days a week on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule (with holiday exceptions). The 49-day meet will end Saturday, March 26. Condition books will be available on www.laurelpark.com and www.equibase.com until they can be printed next week. Copies will also be available at the Laurel Park and Bowie stable gates. Racing will then shift to Pimlico for the spring meeting, which will be highlighted by the 136th running of the $1,000,000 Preakness Stakes® (Grade I), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, which is set for Saturday, May 21, 2011. Preakness day will be the final day of the meet for the 29-day stand, which will begin Friday, April 1. After a 15-week break, which will include seven live days of racing at Timonium during the State Fair, live racing will return to the major tracks on the Saturday after Labor Day. Racing will take place from Sept. 10 through Dec. 17, four days a week in September (Wednesday through Saturday) and five days a week in October, November and December (Tuesday through Saturday). 2011 Maryland Live Racing Schedule
Laurel Park Winter Meeting (49 days)
Jan. 1
Jan. 5-6-7-8
Jan. 12-13-14-15
Jan. 17-20-21-22
Jan. 26-27-28-29
Feb. 2-3-4-5
Feb. 9-10-11-12
Feb. 16-17-18-19
Feb. 21-24-25-26
Mar. 2-3-4-5
Mar. 9-10-11-12
Mar. 16-17-18-19
Mar. 23-24-25-26
Pimlico Spring Meeting (29 days)
Apr. 1-2-3
Apr. 7-8-9-10
Apr. 14-15-16-17
Apr. 21-22-23 (do not race Easter Sunday)
Apr. 28-29-30-May 1
May 5-6-7-8
May 12-13-14-15
May 19-20-21
Laurel Park Fall Meeting (68 days)
Sept. 10
Sept. 14-15-16-17
Sept. 21-22-23-24
Sept. 28-29-30-Oct. 1
Oct. 4-5-6-7-8
Oct. 10-11-13-14-15
Oct. 18-19-20-21-22
Oct. 25-26-27-28-29
Nov. 1-2-3-4-5
Nov. 8-9-10-11-12
Nov. 15-16-17-18-19
Nov. 22-23-24-25-26
Nov. 29-30-Dec. 1-2-3
Dec. 6-7-8-9-10
Dec. 13-14-15-16-17
-mjc-
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
410-578-4461 (Pimlico)
301-470-5461 (Laurel Park)
240-876-7403 (Mobile)
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