Laurel Park is scheduled to renew racing on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, after canceling racing over observe floor issues when it was final scheduled to race Nov. 22-23.
Based on a launch distributed by the Maryland observe final week, it canceled racing this previous Friday shortly earlier than the opening race after talking with its jockeys who had expressed issues about using over the principle observe following in a single day snow and afternoon rain. The motion additionally got here after a horse was injured whereas coaching on the observe final week.
Following the cancellations, a observe inspection carried out by a member of the Horseracing Integrity and Security Authority’s Observe Floor Advisory Group recognized no surface-related problems with instant concern, per a press release by a HISA spokesperson.
Ann McGovern, HISA’s director of racetrack security, didn’t return a cellphone and electronic mail message in search of a phone interview.
Based on coach Katy Voss, president of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Affiliation, an unidentified horse was injured throughout coaching the morning of Nov. 27 at Laurel Park. She additionally stated that Tuesday morning, an unidentified rider was injured and hospitalized in a separate incident unrelated to the observe floor. That horse was OK, in line with Voss.
Spikes of horse breakdowns are sometimes multifactorial.
In its analysis Monday, “The HISA workforce reviewed the information collected in opposition to beforehand recorded information and that information confirmed there have been no inconsistencies,” the HISA spokesperson continued. “HISA shared the preliminary findings with Maryland Jockey Membership executives. Nevertheless, it was MJC’s determination to reopen for coaching. HISA will proceed to help the MJC because it appears for the reason for at the moment’s horse harm.”
Observe officers met late Wednesday morning with horsemen and jockeys, and the observe introduced a resumption of racing hours afterward.
Voss stated horsemen are “gun shy” and famous “a pair a few incidents these days which have actually alarmed folks.” However she stated she is glad with the efforts of HISA and observe workers in monitoring the observe.
She stated views are blended from horsemen on the situation of the floor. Some have critiqued the observe’s cushion, she stated.
“There’s been occasions prior to now the place it is loads worse than it’s proper now,” she stated. “I imply, I labored some horses this morning and every thing, and my riders thought it felt all proper.”
Voss and Dave Joseph, vp of communications/media for the MJC, each stated the Laurel Park observe could be sealed in a single day in anticipation of in a single day rain. Voss added there could be no coaching within the morning as a result of sealed floor.
Like different tracks that race on Thanksgiving, Laurel Park has an early submit time for racing on the vacation. First submit is 11:25 a.m. ET.
