The Horsemen’s Newsletter February 2012 Vol. 22 • Number 2 Maryland Maryland-Based Purses See Horse-Of-The-Year Honors 10% Bump To Eighttofasttocatch The Maryland a champion,” Racing Media said Arnold Association’s Heft, Sylvia’s Board of Direc- husband. tors has named “This is a EIGHTTOFAST- great thing Laurel Park purses increased rough- TOCATCH, for my wife ly 10% across the board to a figure that who runs in the and me. This tops the 2011 daily averages at two colors of Sylvia is my first real nearby racetrack casinos with which it Heft, the 2011 champion competes for horses. Maryland Based and I’m 92 The Maryland Jockey Club made Horse-of-the- years old.” the announcement Jan. 11 in conjunc- Year. EIGHTTO- tion with release of the Laurel winter/ Conditioned by Tim Keefe, the six-year- FASTTOCATCH, bred in Maryland by Dark spring meet stakes schedule. With the old bay gelding won five starts in Maryland in Hollow Farm and Graham and Anita Motion’s elimination of four stakes, purses for 2011, including the Harrison Johnson Memo- Herringswell Stables, joins past award win- all but one stakes have been increased. rial, the Japan Racing Association Stakes and ners Better Talk Now, Heros Reward, Ah Day, Laurel purses averaged $185,813 the Maryland Million Classic with an average and Shared Account among others. over 115 days of racing in 2011. The av- Beyer Speed figure of 100. The Maryland-based Horse-Of-The-Year erage will increase to $205,000 in the “Though I owned the Bullets and the Capi- award will be presented at a ceremony to be second condition book for the meet be- tals with Mr. Abe Pollin, we never really had held on February 11th. ginning Feb. 1. The previous purse increase in Maryland came last February. Maryland Live! Casino On Even though Maryland tracks do not have video lottery terminals, they Track For June Opening derive purse revenue from two VLT parlors in Maryland: Hollywood Ca- The first phase of the Maryland Live! Casi- ers. That 7 percent is divided between the sino at Perryville and Ocean Downs no near Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, Mary- Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries Casino, a harness track on the Eastern land is on target to open in early June, state on an 80/20 percentage basis. The Maryland- lottery director Stephen Martino told the Shore. By law, VLT parlors contribute bred Fund receives 11 percent of the Thor- 4.98% of revenue to thoroughbred state’s casino commission in early January. oughbred share, and the remaining 89 per- purses for racing in the state. The first phase of the Cordish Company “We will have a purse increase project will open with cent goes to the Purse Account. across the board,” Racing Secretary between 2,500 and 3,000 Georganne Hale said. “Some are 10%, slots machines with the others 11%. It will make our purses rest of the 4,750-machine competitive with Charles Town, Penn slots parlor to open by the National, and Parx Racing. Horsemen end of 2012. will not have to go out of town to run Seven percent of the rev- enue generated from slots at Continued on Page 3... Maryland Live! is directed toward horsemen and breed- News Clips Rapid Redux Is Awarded Ted Black Named Special Eclipse Award President Of MRMA Prince George’s Gazette sports writer Ted Rapid Redux, perhaps the most famous start- in November at Mountaineer Park, surpassed the Black was recently elected as the President er-allowance horse in racing history, was hon- 19-race winning streaks compiled in recent sea- of the Maryland Racing Media Association by ored for his 2011 accomplishments with a Special sons by Peppers Pride and Zenyatta. members of the organization. Black succeeds Eclipse Award at a ceremony on Jan. 16 in Beverly Rapid Redux’s winning streak of 22, which former President Stan Salter who served at Hills, Calif. began in December 2010 is the highest in North the helm of the group since May 2011. Special Eclipse Awards pe- America since Camarero set his Born and raised in Prince George’s Coun- riodically are given when ac- world record of 56 in Puerto ty, Black has been a staff writer for the Ga- complishments during a racing Rico between 1953 and 1955. zette Newspapers since 1999 and has been a season fall outside established Rapid Redux was trained member of the National Turf Writers Associa- championship parameters, and throughout 2011 by David Wells, tion since 1995. Rapid Redux represents such a and is owned by Marylander Group That Includes case. Robert Cole, who claimed the Stronach Applies For The six-year-old gelding, won horse for $6,250 in October Baltimore Slots License all 19 of his starts during 2011, 2010. Rapid Redux’s 19 wins dur- Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert is one equaling a record for calendar- ing 2011 came at seven different of the chief investors in a group that submit- year wins held since 1948 by the racetracks and at distances rang- ted paperwork and a $22.5-million applica- great Citation. Rapid Redux’s ing from five furlongs to 1 1/8 tion fee to build a $310-million casino in Bal- 20th victory without a defeat, miles. timore, Maryland. According to a report on the Crain’s Detroit Business website, investors expect a decision on the casino application by April for the avail- Recreation Report able license, for which no other group has sub- mitted the necessary paperwork and fee. From Dan Mangum, Donations The investment group is led by Caesars MTHA Recreation Director Entertainment Corp., which has a 20% stake The following generous people recently in Gilbert’s casinos being constructed in Bowling donated clothing, reading material and/or Cleveland and Cincinnati. The other inves- The bowling tournament is now scheduled other items for distribution on the backstretch tors in the deal are Frank Sronach’s The Stro- for Monday, February 27, at Laurel Fair Lanes. or made a monetary contribution: Charles nach Group, which owns Laurel Park and Call Dan Mangum at 410-802-5798 or sign up ‘Snake’ Frock, Gene Gilhooly, Georganne Hale Pimlico Race Course, and Maryland-based in the track kitchens. and Lydia Williams. CVPR Gaming Holdings, Crain’s Detroit Busi- ness reported. Plans for the casino call for 110,000 square feet for 3,750 slot machines, a steakhouse and food court, and retail space. 2011 Maryland Slots Report The Horsemen’s Destination % 2011 Revenue Since Inception Newsletter Education Trust Fund 48.5 $75,518,764.99 $88,903,032.49 Casino Operators 33.0 $51,383,901.95 $60,490,723.17 Published monthly by the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Dedication Horsemen’s (80% Thoroughbred, 20% Harness) 7.0 $10,899,615.55 $12,831,365.50 Association, Inc. Local Impact Grants 5.5 $8,563,983.66 $12,831,365.50 6314 Windsor Mill Road, Race Tracks Facility Baltimore, Md. 21207; (410) 265-6842; Fax: (410) 265-6841; Renewal Account 2.5 $3,892,719.86 $4,582,630.54 E-mail: [email protected] Maryland Lottery 2.0 $3,114,175.87 $3,666,104.41 Website: www.mdhorsemen.com The Horsemen’s Newsletter Small, Minority, and reports on issues and events of interest Women-Owned Business 1.5 $2,335,631.92 $2,749,578.34 to owners and trainers in Maryland. Your suggestions are welcome. Total 2011 Revenue 100.0 $155,708,793.80 $183,305,221.70 Reminders Backstretch Health Center Pimlico Stall Applications Backstretch worker Michael Tarquino Colds. flu. allergies. Don’t let winter- The Pimlico stable area is slated to be In Memoriam passed away on December time illness get you down. open March 12th through June 1st for the 27 at the age of 31. Michael worked as The Backstretch Health Center, located Spring meet. a hotwalker for trainer Charles Frock at the time of his death. in the track kitchen building Please have your stall applications into the at Laurel Park, offers Racing Office no later than March 1st. Dr. John Forrest Peacock passed away on December 30 at the free care to all TCA Grant Applications backstretch em- age of 70. He was an Examining Vet- Thoroughbred Charities ployees, their spouses erinarian for the Maryland Racing of America (TCA), the largest Commission from 1980 to 2011 be- and children. non-profit organization in the Dr. Harry M. Harris, fore he retired for health reasons. Thoroughbred industry, is Dr. Peacock was born in Ashe- medical director, sees visitors at the center currently accepting grant applications. ville, NC and graduated from North on a first-come, first-served basis Tuesdays Applications must be postmarked by Carolina State University in 1963. He and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. March 15. TCA’s mission is to provide a better received a doctorate degree in Veteri- The center is a joint project of the Mary- life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after nary Medicine from the University of land Horsemen’s Assistance Fund and the their racing careers. Georgia in 1967. Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Associa- For more information, go to Thomas J. Kennedy, Jr., a tion. thoroughbredcharities.org. World War II hero and long-time Thor- oughbred owner, died at his home in Mt. Washington, Md., Jan. 6. Need Help Filing Your Taxes? Kennedy, a native of Kingsville, Md., raced horses Recreation Report The Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Fund is providing free throughout the Mid-At- help preparing backstretch workers EZ Form tax returns. lantic region for nearly Contact Bill Borchardt at (301) 776-0404 five decades.