The Horsemen’s Newsletter April 2012 Vol. 22 • Number 4 MTHA approves adjusted stakes payouts, Arabians The Board of Directors of the MTHA voted by conference call to endorse House Bill 597 unanimously at its March 21, 2012 meeting “Horse Racing – Mile Thoroughbred Race- to endorse and approve a plan submitted by tracks – Payment of Taxes and Impact Aid and the Maryland Jockey Club’s Racing Office that Arabian Breed Racing Authorization.” modifies the Maryland stakes purse payout This emergency legislation, sponsored structure by paying down to sixth place from by Ways and Means Committee Chairman the previous system which paid only to fifth Sheila Hixson, was created to authorize lim- place. ited Arabian racing at Maryland tracks under Russell, Kobiskie The new breakdown for stakes payouts, very specific conditions with no contribution which began April 7 in the Mister Diz Stakes, requirements from the Thoroughbred Purse win Laurel is: 60% to first, 20% to second, 10% to third, Account. 6% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 1% to sixth. The purpose of this request by MJC man- Winter Meet Title “This change was the idea of my Stakes agement was to accommodate a potential The 12-week Laurel Park winter Coordinator to attract fuller fields for Mary- international sponsor on Preakness Day. This meeting ended with Sheldon Russell land stakes. If owners know there’s one more sponsor has shown interest in conducting and Dane Kobiskie winning individual way to get a check, in some instances they and funding an Arabian race early on the day’s titles. The 48-day stand began at the are more likely to enter their horse in a stakes card, which requires legislative approval, race,” remarked MJC Racing Secretary Geor- with all pari-mutuel wagering proceeds dis- central Maryland track on January 4 ganne Hale. tributed to Thoroughbred interests as a nor- and ended March 24. To fund this new payout, 1% was removed mally carded race. Russell, the top jockey in the Mary- from the previous system’s third-place finish- Other requirements called for in this legis- land colony a year ago, topped the ers’ payout and transferred to a sixth-place lation are: no more than one race per day; no rider standings with 54 first place fin- finisher. more than three races per meet; any Arabian ishes, 21 more than Malcolm Franklin. In addition, the MTHA Board unanimously race is to be conducted in addition to and not The 24-year-old had 16 multiple win approved an emergency request from MJC in place of an existing Thoroughbred race; days during the meet, including nine and each Arabian race conducted must be ap- proved and sanctioned by the Maryland Rac- in the last four weeks of the stand. ing Commission. Kobiskie won the training title at the winter meet for the second straight year with 34 victories from 81 starts, an impressive 42% winning per- centage. The former rider conditioned seven runners who won multiple races during the meet, including Lady June Bug and Lipstick Traces, who visited the winners’ circle three times. Jamie Ness finished in second place with 23 wins. Kobiskie’s top owner, PTK LLC, led the owner standings, finishing first 29 times, six more than Midwest Thor- oughbreds. Recreation Report Longtime backstretch worker James From Dan Mangum, MTHA Recreation Director ‘Pino’ Jones passed away on March 19 Orioles/Bay Sox Tickets Golf Outing Inat the ageMemoriam of 69. We will be distributing Orioles and Baysox We are attempting to get a golf outing to- Jasmine D. Watkins, wife of 52 years tickets through a sign up and drawing on the gether for May 7 or May 14 at Walden Coun- to Maryland owner Robert Watkins and following dates: mother of trainer Shannon Watkins, try Club in Crofton. Please contact Dan or see Baysox tickets will be passed out on April 7, Libby Butts if you’re interested in participating passed away on March 17 after a long April 28 and May 5 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the or helping to organize this outing. battle with cancer. Bowie Kitchen. Also April 13, April 20 and May The Watkins family is best known for 11 at the Laurel Kitchen. Donations owning Smelly, an earner of $308,862 Orioles tickets will be distributed through from 26 starts while winning or placing The following generous people recently drawings to be held on the following dates: in six stakes including a 10-length victory donated clothing, reading material and/or Sat., May 11 at the Laurel Kitchen, Sat., July 28 in the Grade 3 Federico Tesio Stakes. at the Bowie Kitchen, and Sat., August 25 at the other items for distribution on the backstretch Noted horsewoman and philanthro- Laurel Kitchen. or made a monetary contribution: Gene Gil- pist Mignon C. Smith died February 10 Everyone may sign up at the track kitchens. hooly, Anthony R. Fulco, Pat Kelly, Herb & of an apparent heart attack in Washing- By signing up for either the Baysox or the O’s Miriam Mittenthal, Claire Minderlein and Caro- ton, D.C. She was 81. tickets you will be eligible for both drawings. Smith was an accomplished breeder line Stautberg. and owner for 50 years, racing on the flat and over jumps. The horses she bred won over $2.4 million in purses Reminders and included nine black-type winners. Backstretch Health Center MTHA Office Schedule Dr. Harry M. Harris continues to see visitors The MTHA race track office is open on live Calendar during the Pimlico meet at the track kitchen race days during the Pimlico meet from 9 a.m. building at Laurel Park on a first-come, first- until 4 p.m. The office is located above the for- served basis, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. mer Pimlico track kitchen. Call Diana Piñones Live Racing: Doc Harris will also be available at the Pim- at (410) 578-4464 for more information. Pimlico ................................ Now-May 19 lico First Aid Station on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. Timonium ........................ Aug. 24-Sept. 3 No Parking to noon. Care is FREE OF CHARGE to all back- Horsemen are reminded that there is NO Fasig-Tipton stretch workers and their families. PARKING in between the barns at Pimlico. Midlantic Auctions: Injured Jockeys Trainers, please notify your owners of this notice. Track management will strictly enforce Two-Year-Olds in Training ....... May 21-22 Jockeys injured during a race at the Pimlico this regulation at the orders of the Fire Mar- Eastern Fall Yearling ................... Oct. 2-3 meet are reminded to contact Diana Piñones first at (410) 578-4464 for help starting a Work- shall and will tow any cars found between December Mixed ............................. Dec. 3 these barns. er’s Compensation claim. Out of State Auctions: If a jockey’s injury is non-race related, Tattoo Schedule Ocala Two-Year-Olds in Training, please contact your employer at the time of Frank Saumell’s current tattooing schedule Ocala, FL ........................... April 23-26 the accident for Worker’s Compensation insur- is: Monday – Laurel Park, Tuesday – Bowie and ance information. Wednesday – Pimlico. Kegasus Returns The hard-partying centaur known as Kegasus will be back to promote this year’s $1 million Preakness Stakes. The Maryland Jockey Club announced in a news release that Kegasus, Lord of the Preakness InfieldFest, will serve as the voice and personality of the InfieldFest advertisements again this year. In February, the “International Brotherhood of Mythical Creatures” declared Kegasus “missing” as part of a marketing gimmick. Board Actions Jockey Club makes fatality MTHA Board Meeting – March 12, 2012 – Conference Call database available More than a dozen racetracks that Members present: Richard J. Hoffberger, president, Richard J. Meyer, vice-president, participate in a horse racing industry Christine E. Bricker, Dale Capuano, Linda S. Gaudet, H. Neil Glasser, Christopher W. Grove, fatality database, including Maryland Michael F. Horning, R. Larry Johnson, Timothy L. Keefe, Lawrence E. Murray, Katharine M. Voss. tracks, have agreed to release statistics Members absent: W. Robert Bailes, Howard M. Bender and Arnold A. Heft. for their properties, according to The Jockey Club. Arabian Racing Consultation with The Equine Injury Database was con- The Board expressed support for the Gegorek & Company ceived after the breakdown of 2006 Ken- amendment to HB 597 “Horse Racing – Mile The Board granted the MTHA’s officers the tucky Derby winner Barbaro in the Preak- Thoroughbred Racetracks – Payment of Taxes authority to retain the services of Gegorek ness Stakes, and launched in July 2008. and Impact Aid” that calls for the authorization of Arabian racing at Pimlico Race Course under & Company when need arises in matters To encourage tracks’ participation, the specified conditions. relating to The Stronach Group. database organizers previously hadn’t dis- Voted unanimously. Voted unanimously. closed fatality rates for individual tracks. Now The Jockey Club will be making MTHA Board Meeting – March 21, 2012 – Laurel Park that data available through its website: www.jockeyclub.com. Members present: Richard J. Hoffberger, president, W. Robert Bailes, Christine E. Bricker, Dale Capuano, Linda S. Gaudet, H. Neil Glasser, Christopher W. Grove, Michael F. Horning, R. Larry Johnson, Katharine M. Voss. Members absent: Howard M. Bender, Arnold A. Heft, Timothy L. Keefe, Richard J. Meyer, vice-president, and Lawrence E. Murray. Drug & Alcohol Program Stakes Payouts The Board appropriated $40,000 from the The Board approved modifying payout Purse Account as the Maryland Thoroughbred percentages in stakes races effective immedi- Horsemen’s Association’s 2012 contribution to ately to: 60% to first, 20% to second, 10% to the Drug and Alcohol Program. third, 6% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 1% to sixth.