LAUREL, MD. 12-18-09---With 10 to 15 inches of snow expected in Anne Arundel County by tomorrow evening, the Maryland Jockey Club has cancelled live racing and simulcasting at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course for Saturday, Dec. 19. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Maryland and its neighboring states from Friday evening until late Saturday night.
“The weather reports highly suggest that a major snowstorm will hit this area tomorrow morning and continue late through the day with the heaviest accumulations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “Safety is a key issue for our horsemen and patrons so we hope they enjoy the day.”
The Saturday card was to be the last live racing day of the 2009 season. The 2010 campaign opens on Friday, Jan. 1. First post will be 12:35 pm. Laurel Park and Pimlico will be open for simulcasting Dec. 20-23 and 26-31.
Also cancelled is the Maryland Horse Council rally, which was scheduled to be held in the Laurel paddock at 11 a.m.
The thirty-three giving tree gifts and 2010 racing calendar giveaway promotions scheduled for Saturday will now take place on Saturday, Jan. 2.
The $50,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship for two-year-old fillies has been rescheduled for Friday, Jan. 1 but with different conditions since all horses become a year older on the first day of the year. The race will be re-named the Maryland Filly Championship. The racing office will draw for the Jan. 1 card on Tuesday, Dec. 29. All 16 runners nominated are eligible to run.
E ROD & LAKE CAPTURE FALL TITLES
With tomorrow’s cancellation, the 15-week Laurel Park fall meeting ended today with Erick “E Rod” Rodriguez and Scott Lake winning individual titles.
Rodriguez captured the riding title by winning 53 races, fourteen more than apprentice Joshua Navarro. The 29-year-old tied a career-high by winning four races on both Oct. 31 and Dec. 9. A top ten rider in Maryland since 2003, Rodriguez had 15 multiple win days during the meet and won at a 27.2% rate.
Lake won 25 races during the stand, three more than runner-up Dale Capuano. Since 2006, the Lake barn has captured 12 of the 16 meets conducted at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course. Overall, the 44-year-old conditioner has 18 training titles at the major Maryland tracks this decade.
Lake and Luis Garcia captured year-round titles in the state. Lake runners won 89 races at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course, while Garcia reached the winners’ circle 84 times. Both will be honored by the Maryland Jockey Club on Saturday, Jan 9.
BROOKSTEIN LIGHTS UP BOARD AT ODDS OF 130-1
Christmas came early for owner-trainer Joe Delozier when Brookstein, who was eased in both of his previous starts, galloped to victory over claiming maidens and paid $262.80.
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Brookstein
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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Brookstein, a 3-year-old son of Bernstein, carried Jonathan Joyce to a 1-1/2 length victory in 1:06.69 for the 5-1/2 furlong distance. The gelding made his debut against maiden special weight runners at Pimlico on May 1 and failed to finish. He returned to the races on November 19, this time against $7,500 maidens, and faded to last before being eased.
Stepping up against $12,500 runners today, Brookstein came home a surprisingly easy winner, but his win payoff pales in comparison with the all-time largest win mutuel in Maryland of $574 by Cadeaux at Pimlico in 1913.
-MJC-