Business
Preakness set for May 17, anchors 16-stake weekend
The 150th running of the Grade 1 Preakness will take place May 17 at Pimlico Race Course and will anchor a weekend filled with 16 stakes.
“He loved this game”: Owner-breeder Larry Johnson passes
Larry Johnson, who put his stamp on the Thoroughbred industry on racetracks and in boardrooms in Maryland and Virginia, passed away Feb. 4.
Handle slumps in December as 2024 lags prior year
US wagering handle on Thoroughbred races plummeted 14% in December, as the industry suffered through another down year.
Mike Hopkins steps down after 40 years at Md. Racing Commission
Maryland Racing Commission executive director Mike Hopkins will retire after today, ending a career that spanned 40 years and many industry changes.
Jockey Club bars 12 from stud book access
The ruling announced by The Jockey Club bans 12 individuals from registering Thoroughbred foals for periods up to five years.
Inglis Digital October sale underway
More than 65 horses are entered in the Inglis Digital October 2024 sale, including a stakes-placed runner in foal to Justify.
Maryland Horse Forum report released
Organizers have released a Final Report from the daylong 2024 Maryland Horse Forum, including notes, observations, and recommendations.
MHBA to host Handicapping 101 session
The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) will host a free Handicapping 101 event October 28 to get you ready for Breeders’ Cup.
Big WVBC gets Arnaldo Bocachica jockey of the week
With five stakes wins Saturday on WVBC night at Charles Town, jockey Arnaldo Bocachica earned Jockeys’ Guild jockey of the week honors.
WV Breeders Classics publishes 2nd volume of history
West Virginia Breeders Classics Ltd., announced Oct. 7 that it had published second volume of its history.
Cathy Schmidt to receive Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award
Cathy Schmidt, founder and Executive Director of Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, has been selected as the 2024 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award recipient.
Pimlico to close September 1
Pimlico will close for racing, training, and wagering September 1, MJC chief MIke Rogers wrote horsemen, as the renewal of Maryland racing ramps up.
HBPA calls for HISA to adopt “no-effect thresholds”
The National HBPA today called on HISA to adopt drug testing threshold levels below which no positive is called.
Fasig-Tipton June sale topped by Vekoma colt
A colt by promising young sire Vekoma fetched a top bid of $150,000 to headline the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic June 2yo sale June 25.
Fasig-Tipton June sale set for Tuesday
It’s last call for 2024 two-year-old sales, and the Fasig-Tipton June sale will send several dozen juveniles onto the next phase of their careers.
Charles Town announces racing office promotions
Charles Town Races announced several promotions, including that of new racing secretary Anna Hibbard.
Delaware Park to move June 22 post time forward
With extremely hot weather rolling through the Mid-Atlantic, Delaware Park has announced it will move its first post forward for its June 22 card.
HISA updates void claim, other safety rules
The new HISA rules, which go into effect July 8, modify existing void claim and waiver claiming regs and make a variety of other changes.
May wagering handle ticks up
Driven by record wagering on the Kentucky Derby, national wagering handle increased slightly in May versus the prior year.
HISA announces quarterly reduction in fatality rate
The rate of equine fatalities in the first quarter of ’24 was approximately 38% lower than last year, HISA said in a press release.
