MARYLAND: Dates, revenue deal struck for 2011

[Kasept]

There is a meeting in the Governor's office at 9:30 this morning and there is a distinct possibility of a breakthrough in negotiations.

MD THA General Counsel Alan Foreman will join me on ATR at 11:30a this morning with the most current news on the situation. (DRF's Matt Hegarty at 9:30a on Maryland and the Stronach-MID news as well..)

You know there's going to be a guy to "save the day"


Someone needs to punch that guy in the throat when they start spewing the hubris.

[djw]

Hubris and punch in the throat in the same sentence.

Coach (Pillow) , One thing I love is I never know what I will read from you next, but I always click just in case...

Excellent vocab choice and I am sure that it brough a little skip of a beat in the Bykster's heart!

[Kasept]

There is a deal in Maryland... More details as soon as possible.

[Kasept]

Foreman confirms 146 days of racing for Maryland...

MRC emergency meeting this afternoon to ratify...

Gov. O'Malley statement forthcoming...


Officials: Maryland Has Deal for 2011 Dates
By Tom LaMarra

Posted: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 11:52 AM

Maryland racing interests and governor’s office will announce later Dec. 22 that a deal has been reached to offer a full 146-day live racing schedule in the state. Officials with Penn National Gaming Inc. and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association said Dec. 22 there is a deal, and that Gov. Martin O’Malley is involved.

O'Malley convened a meeting the morning of Dec. 22 in the hopes of hammering out a deal, and later issued a statement. “I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached, and that industry representatives, track owners, horsemen, and breeders were able to come together to reach a consensus that will allow for a full season of racing in 2011," O'Malley said.

Maryland THA general counsel Alan Foreman, speaking on the “At the Races With Steve Byk” Show the morning of Dec. 22, said agreements were being finalized. “I’m pleased we got this done,” Foreman said. “I think this could be wrapped up by the end of the day.”

The MRC is expected to hold an emergency meeting Dec. 22 to award the dates for 2011. It appears Laurel Park will open as scheduled in early January. A PNGI official also indicated a deal was done, and that details would be forthcoming.

[freddymo]

It's 100 days more then they need

[Kasept]

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

[-BT-]

Originally Posted by Kasept

[b][size="4"]
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.

interesting... i know the pk6 isn't the most popular wager in MD, but could this set up for a mandatory payout? which could be interesting if it were to roll from black eyed susan day


-bt-

[lemoncrush]

I assume this sets up another year if the magna5!?

[phystech]

Interesting to see corporate extortion is still alive and well in MD. Too bad Magna/PNG doesn't spend as much time trying to grow their racing business through innovative ideas, while finding ways to reduce expenses, instead of having blinkers on for slots and/or gov't handouts.

Simply charging $5 per day per stall at Bowie and Lau could generate about $3mm a year. Charging $50 per horse being shipped from Bowie to Lau, or from Bowie and Lau to Pimlico could easily eliminate a huge expenditure for Magna/PNG. Adding $.10 supers and $.50 tris, pick 3's, etc could add to the handle. I'd be willing to bet I've just identified $4mm in savings/earnings MJC could implement - but they'd rather have the handout.

As happy as I am for the track employees who can least afford to be laid off, this is nothing more than offering a band-aid to an amputee. I hate the thought of going through this again next Nov/Dec, especially if it involves having to endure 2 hrs plus of Frank Stronach testifying that "...the model is broken, we have to make monies, we can't afford to lose monies...". He literally answered every question with the same phrase for 2 freaking hours yesterday. It was painful.

We need a new track owner. We need a new track. Did I mention we need a new track owner? PNG is not the answer. Frank is not the answer. Painting the turds that are Laurel and Pimlico is not the answer.

And yet, I can't wait to run run in 2011 for MD's slot fueled purses.....luckily, my partnership managed to earn a nice profit in 2010 because we owned the only horse to win 6 races during the Laurel fall meet....

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by freddymo

It's 100 days more then they need

Way too many ****ing days. Racing is doomed.

[freddymo]

Md was a great candiate for less racing.. Racing needed Md. to disappear and become a 50 day a year curcuit. with the advent of new racing meccas like PID, RP, Zia, PARX, PENN, Indy, etc. there really is zero need for MD save a small boutique Preakness saving meet.. Thx Md racing you have done enough and racing has moved to greener pastures.. As sad as this sounds...MD. sorry but slots rule

[phystech]

PID is a candidate for NO racing. PARX will be down to 100 days in 2 years. Penn will have even less in the same timeframe unless the Fed regulators shut them down even sooner. Zia? Isn't that the name of a porn star???