Maryland Racing Commission Chairman Mike Algeo was presented with the Maryland Jockey Club’s Special Award of Merit during the May 18 Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course.

The Preakness Stakes post-position draw will be held Monday, May 15, at Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore and will include a public concert by English musician John Waite, who is known for his many popular songs in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

After days of negotiations, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Maryland Horse Breeders Association reached an agreement with the Maryland Jockey Club on hiring consultant John Passero to examine the Laurel Park dirt surface and make recommendations for its improvement in the wake of a string of equine injuries during training and racing.

In an effort to improve communication and productive discussion amongst our community, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is testing the concept of WhatsApp groups specific to the following groups: Laurel Park trainers, Pimlico Race Course trainers, and Maryland jockeys.

Legislation that will create the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, an entity that will participate in the development of racing and training facilities in the state, passed the state Senate by a 47-0 vote April 6 and the House of Representatives by a vote of 132-2 on April 10, the last day of the 2023 General Assembly session.

The resumption of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority’s Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program has been moved to May 22.

Virtual sign-ups for the Maryland Backstretch Pension Plan have been a success the last three years and continue to be available with a deadline of June 1, 2023 at backstretchpension.com.

Jeff Kreimer, Director of Health and Safety for MJC, provided the following reminders and updates on fire and health safety as summer approaches.