From the mid-Atlantic headlines…
- Delaware horsemen on Wednesday told the state’s Lottery and Gaming Study Commission that the state should reduce its share of gambling revenues in order to provide more for casinos and for racing interests (here). The state currently receives more than 43 percent of video lottery net proceeds, while racing receives eight percent. In recent years, competition for the region’s gambling dollar has intensified, and Delaware finds itself at something of a crossroads, facing competition from newer operations in Pennsylvania and Maryland. That’s impacted the casinos themselves, of course, and also racing; Delaware Park’s 81-day racing schedule this season was its shortest in nearly 30 years. Saying that, under current law, his department was “out of tools,” state Finance Secretary Tom Cook urged commission members to identify and recommend proposed solutions.
- At Charles Town Races, rider Jerry Villegas was the night’s only multiple winner, taking two races… In the first, a state-bred maiden special weight event for two year-olds, the top three spots went to horses making their career debuts: 28-1 Rolling Road, 41-1 Clubin Til Midnite, and 9-1 Honybadgerdontcare. The three triggered an exacta payout of $1356.60 and a $1 trifecta of more than $10,000.
- It apparently was apprentice day at Laurel Park, as bug riders took six of the nine races. National leader Victor Carrasco took three, including the fifth, a first-level allowance, with 5-1 Mshomecomingqueen. Not to be outdone, Trevor McCarthy turned around and took the day’s last three races, among them a pair of second-level allowances, with 9-1 Capital Fellow and with 9-5 favorite Smash and Grab.
- At Penn National, two riders — Natasha Coddington and David Cora — enjoyed two-win evenings. Coddington took both ends of the early double, with Righteous Again and Vindys Mighty Quik, while Cora’s pair included the evening’s richest race, a $35,000 maiden special weight for Pennsylvania-breds, which he won aboard 6-5 fave Zippity Goomba. Trainer Norman Pointer took both ends of the late double.
