Racing News

Ortiz, McMahon Capture Laurel Park Winter Meet Titles

Yomar Ortiz and Hugh McMahonLAUREL, MD., 03-30-13---The Laurel Park winter meeting ended today with apprentice rider Yomar Ortiz and veteran trainer Hugh McMahon winning individual titles. The 50-day stand began at the central Maryland track on January 1.

Chelsey Keiser Gets First Chance To 'Smileforthecamera'

LAUREL, MD.  03-29-13---Apprentice jockey Chelsey Keiser won for the first time when she guided Smileforthecamera to victory in today’s fourth race at Laurel Park.

On her first opportunity to ride Joan Everett’s $15,000 claimer, the 6-5 favorite, Keiser allowed Smileforthecamera to drop back to last before guiding him outside for a run at the leaders. The son of Eddington veered in but was able to avoid trouble and reached the front with a sixteenth of a mile to the finish line.

Pimlico Spring Meeting Begins Next Thursday

BALTIMORE, 03-29-13---Live racing in Maryland will shift to historic Pimlico Race Course next Thursday, April 4 for the spring meeting. The headline event of the 36-day stand is the 138th running of the $1 million Preakness® Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, on May 18.

Bold Affair Repeats In Conniver Stakes

LAUREL, MD. 03-23-13---Charles Reed & Mike Zanella’s Bold Affair broke for the front and raced comfortably on the lead the remainder of the way in defense of her title in the $100,000 Conniver Stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Bold Affair carried Abel Castellano to a two-length victory beating four other Maryland-bred fillies and mares. She completed the seven furlong distance in 1:25.14.

Laurel Park Celebrates Leatherbury's 80th Birthday

LAUREL, MD. 03-23-13---The Maryland Jockey Club celebrated the birthday of legendary trainer King Leatherbury, who turns 80 on Tuesday, March 26 with a presentation in the winners’ circle after the third race. All fans attending Laurel Saturday received a complimentary button and free birthday cupcakes.

“It is a little embarrassing but I appreciate the tribute,” Leatherbury said.

Bullet Catcher Wins Friday Feature

LAUREL, MD. 03-22-13---Bullet Catcher, who made local and national headlines earlier this year after escaping from the Laurel Park backside and taking a 1.6 mile journey, won his first race in nearly two years with an impressive performance in Friday’s 8th race, a $40,000 allowance.

McCarron Graduate Strandberg Wins First Race

LAUREL, MD. 03-22-13---Mallory Strandberg cracked the winners’ circle at Laurel Park for the first time in her career, guiding Light Of Truth to victory in today’s opener.

Bold Affair Seeks Repeat In Conniver Stakes

LAUREL, MD. 03-21-13---Multiple stakes winner Bold Affair leads four less accomplished Maryland-bred fillies and mares into Saturday’s Conniver Stakes. The daughter of Two Punch captured this race a year ago, the first of five stakes victories during her 4-year-old campaign. 

Bold Affair, the 2-5 morning line favorite, then won the Primonetta, Skipat, Maryland Million Distaff Handicap, Geisha in 2012 and took the What a Summer in her 2013 debut. Overall, the Howard Wolfendale trainee is 10-of-17 lifetime, with seven stakes scores, for earnings of $599,540.

Maryland Jockey Club To Host The World's Largest Farm To Table Dining Experience At The Preakness Stakes

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Mike Isabella to design the 2013 menu

Norman Asbjornson Rallies From Last To Win Harrison Johnson Stakes

Norman Asbjornson wins the Harrison Johnson StakesLAUREL, MD.  03-16-13---Thomas McClay & Harry Nye’s Norman Asbjornson ran down front runner Eighttofasttocatch to win the $125,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes this afternoon at Laurel Park.

Sent to post at 6-1 under Jeremy Rose for trainer Carlos Mancilla, the 5-year-old was winning his first stakes. A hint of what he was capable of doing came in his previous start, when Norman Asbjornson was elevated to second in the John B. Campbell Stakes last month after he was fouled by Service for Ten in the final furlong.