Laurel Park Management told the Maryland Racing Commission on January 4 that there have been no catastrophic incidents there since the track reopened for practice on December 10 and for the race on December 10. December 16 after curing its dirty surface.
The race was canceled at Laurel in early December after a spike in horse deaths in November. This followed the surface undergoing renovations in the spring and summer while the race was in state. transition to Pimlico racetrack.
Mike Rogers, race president for the Maryland Jockey Club, which runs Laurel, said more than 1,600 exercises or starts from the horse have taken place since the racetrack reopened. He said the racing teams have added about 2,000 tons of sand of course to the track and it is estimated that there will be another 1,000 tons.
MRC member Dr Tom Bowman, who chairs the MRC’s Chariot Health, Safety and Welfare Advisory Committee, expressed concern to the commissioners about disagreement among the consultants. maintenance of the track, leading him to wonder which of them “really the ship’s navigator.”
Rogers replied that any disagreement is related to the time when the track will eventually dig into the “pads” of the track.
Unrelated to previous issues, Laurel has been closed to practice for the past two days following a winter storm. Racetrack officials are preparing to reopen on January 5, although wind will not be allowed on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the committee approved the addition of three race Thursdays: January 6, 20 and 27.
