Backstretch Clean up Day at Laurel Set for July 23
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The Horsemen’s Newsletter July 2019 Vol. 29 • Number 7 Backstretch Clean Up Day At Laurel Set For July 23 Make plans now to attend the first Laurel and Maryland Jockey Club Tuesday, July 23, in must be on the list – stall numbers have been Park Community Day sponsored by the Mary- and around the track kitchen. recorded in each barn.) land Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association The event will provide everyone with There will be plenty of barbecue-type food a chance to celebrate the hundreds of back- and non-alcoholic beverages, as well electric- stretch workers who care for Maryland-based cord and hose-nozzle giveaways, volleyball, racehorses and encourage pride in mainte- a basketball tournament and yard games. A nance of barns and dormitories. highlight will be a dunk tank featuring Major The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Mike Singletary, Chris Merz, Rick Allen, Vic- and offer food, games, awards and fun. tor Carrasco and Anthony Farrior – and per- There will be “best housekeeping awards” haps some others will be added as the event for barns and dormitories, and anyone approaches. who brings a plastic stall fan will re- Please note there will be extra dumpsters ceive a new metal fan. (You available for summer cleaning that day. Talks Resume Regarding Pimlico Representatives of the Maryland Jockey table by Bill Cole, Chief Executive Officer of the the 2020 General Assembly session. Club and City of Baltimore June 27 told the Baltimore Development Corp., and Alan Fore- Next year, it’s possible the General As- Mary land Racing Commission they will do ev- man, legal counsel for the Maryland Thorough- sembly will also act on legislation authorizing erything in their power to work toward keeping bred Horsemen’s Association. Cole said he was sports betting via a constitutional amendment the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore and upgrad- present to represent the city, while Foreman in November. Under previous bills that did ing Pimlico Race Course to properly accommo- said he was asked to provide expertise during not progress, racetracks—including Pimlico— date the Triple Crown race. the ongoing negotiations. would be eligible for sports betting operations. Meanwhile, The Stronach Group, which “My goal is to protect the racing industry,” “When I was appointed chairman, my hope owns the MJC, indicated construction of a new Foreman said. “We want to make Maryland rac- was the industry could work together in what three-level barn, dormitory and office complex ing all it can be.” is in the best interest of Maryland racing,” Al- at Laurel Park should be completed in the sec- MRC Chairman Michael Algeo called it a geo said. “I hope to get a call soon that you ond quarter of 2020. “seminal moment in Maryland racing” in light have reached an agreement.” “It’s going to be a challenge, but we think of the conflict between TSG and Baltimore The MRC requested a de- we’re up to meet the challenge and can meet it,” that effectively killed legislative action on a tailed plan for 2020-21 at MJC attorney Alan Rifkin said regarding Balti- funding mechanism for projects at Laurel, Pimlico. more’s desire to keep the Preakness at Pimlico. the Bowie Training Center and Pim- Continues Page 3 “We’ve already met multiple times and have had lico this spring. The earliest a change conversations, and we will be reaching out to to allow bonds to be floated on other stakeholders. There is nothing more sig- the Racetrack Facility Renewal Ac- nificant to us than to find a resolution.” count—funded by a 1% cut of rev- Rifkin at the MRC meeting was joined at the enue from casino slot machines – is Arena Football Night July 13 • Royal Farms Arena • Baltimore Brigade vs. Washington Valor In a special event for Maryland Horse- access after the game in which Recreation men, the MTHA, in conjunction with the Director Mary Leonard will coordinate a Baltimore Brigade and Medstar Sports Medi- special flag football game among interested cine, is hosting “Arena Football Night” on attendees. Saturday, July 13 at Royal Farms Arena when Medstar Sports Medicine physicians, in the Baltimore Brigade battle the Washington addition to serving the Horsemen’s Health Valor. System, are also the official health provider Maryland horsemen will be offered tick- of the Brigade and Valor. ets at a reduced rate for the night, a special Complete details and pricing will be an- reception before the game as well as field nounced soon. Scholarship Deadline Fast Approaching The MTHA, Maryland Jockey Club, Mary- money is available. Fund website: www.mdthoroughbred land Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Scholarship recipients will be se- scholarship.com. The application pro- UGHBRED HORSEMEN Racing Media Association remind allN Dindustry THRO lectedS AbySSO Ca committee made up cess is much easier now. ARYLA IATION stakeholders that the deadline Mfor applications of representatives from each The website lists specific for scholarships is July 15. contributing orga- requirements of the program. The program awards scholarships for the nization. The ap- Organizers are planning to students of those who work in Maryland’s horse plication process MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY present the scholarships dur- industry, and this year about $40,000 – the most this year shifted ing a live racing event, most in the history of the program – is available to from a paper-based system likely Maryland Pride Day those who qualify. through U.S. mail to on- at Laurel Park on Aug. 17, the final The groups urge everyone to line through a new Maryland Thor- weekend before racing shifts to the Maryland spread the word that this pool of oughbred Industry Scholarship State Fair at Timonium. Rec Report Poker Tournament TH The winner of the June poker tourna- M A ment was Mike LaRochelle. Steve Kell fin- ER LEA ished second and Hugo Garcia came in third. SOCC GUE The next poker game will be held on AT LAUREL Tuesday, July 2 in the Rec Room located in PARK the Laurel Park track kitchen. Softball On Tuesday, June 25 softball teams from Maryland Horsemen’s Laurel Park, Charles Town and Penn Na- tional battled it out in a multi-state softball tournament. Each team Soccer Signups July 23 ended up winning one game. Signups for this year’s soccer teams will be In 2018 there were five teams, but regular Laurel Park defeated rain rendered parts of the cricket field unus- Charles Town 16-15 in ex- held July 23, when Backstretch Community Day tra innings. Charles Town able. Leonard said the plan is to move to a will be held at Laurel Park from noon to 4 p.m. defeated Penn National different field for this year’s games. Marty Leonard, who organizes the compe- 10-8 and Penn National Leonard said he’s looking at an eight-week tition, said signups will be available from noon defeated Laurel Park 12-9 schedule, with games twice a week. Each team in extra innings. to 2 p.m. that day. He will release the schedule would play once a week, and one team would All of these teams plan on playing again once he determines how many teams will be have a bye. The top four would make the play- soon. If you have any interest in joining the playing. offs, with a semifinal and championship game. fun please contact Marty Leonard at 203-733- 1367. 2017 DOCTOR’S 2017 DOCTOR’S 2017 DOCTOR’SSCHEDULE 2017 DOCTOR’SSCHEDULE SCHEDULE 2017 DOCTOR’SSCHEDULE SCHEDULE January 2017 February 2017January 2017 March February2017 2017 April 2017March 2017 April 2017 January 2017 February 2017 January 2017 March 2017 February 2017 April 2017 March 2017 April 2017 2019 RACING January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 CALENDAR Backstretch Community MeetingsJanuary 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 An Important Tool For Horsemen May 2017 June 2017May 2017Once a month, the MTHAJuly 2017 hostsJune backstretch 2017 of our backstretchAugust employees 2017July 2017that will improve and MJC FacilitiesAugust Administrative 2017 Manager Erin 20192019 RACING RACINGMay 2017 community meetingsJune 2017 at both Laurel Park and theirJuly quality 2017 of life. Many good ideas have comeAugust McElwee, 2017 who have taken an active role in May 2017 June 2017 JulyPimlico 2017 Race Course in an effort to getAugust feedback 2017 out of these meetings, such as various needed reaching out to the backstretch community. May 2017CALENDARCALENDAR June 2017and build the relationship betweenJuly horsemen,2017 repairs that we may Augustnot have 2017known about. Lillis said the meetings can be useful for employees, and racetrack personnel. “The meetings are also important because trainers as well as they can get a gauge on the The meetings have been productive on sev- not all backstretch workers may have access to specific or general concerns of those who work JanuaryJanuary 2019 2019 eral levelsFebruaryFebruary – and 2019could 2019 be even more productive MarchMarchthings 2019 2019 like the Internet. They can attendAprilApril a meet 2019 2019- in the barn area. He notedMay the 2019meetings are open June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 with increased participation, said Bobby Lillis, ing and discuss what needs to be done. And we to anyone who works on the backstretch and MTHA Benevolence Administrator. always provide a free lunch.” has an interest in improving the quality of life. “Everyone is encouraged to come,” he said, The meetings are usually attended by Mary- Meeting notices are disseminated through “so we get a better understanding of the needs land Jockey Club Racing Secretary Chris Merz multiple platforms each month. September 2017 OctoberSeptember 2017 2017 NovemberOctober 2017 2017 DecemberNovember 2017 2017 December 2017 September 2017 October 2017 September 2017 November 2017October 2017 December 2017November 2017 December 2017 September 2017 October 2017 SummerNovember 2017 2019 DecemberMedstar 2017 Schedule MayMay 2019 2019 JuneJune 2019 2019 JulyJuly 2019 2019 AugustAugust 2019 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 HORSEMEN’S HEALTH SYSTEM 2017 Doctor’s Schedules Dr.