Delaware Park

Looking forward to gaining clearance from her doctor April 18 to return to riding, jockey Anna "Rosie" Napravnik said she has major changes planned for when she gets back in the saddle. The Eclipse Award runner-up for apprentice jockey last season, Napravnik said she has come upon an opportunity too good to pass up and will move her riding base from Maryland to Delaware Park. As part of that arrangement, she will also begin working with agent Steve Rushing, recognized as the top jockey agent in the Mid-Atlantic.

For Barclay Tagg and William M. Backer, the seven races of the MATCH series (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships) seemed back in May to stretch on forever.But after Crab Grass, which Tagg trains and Backer owns and bred, won the first two races in the sprint division for fillies and mares 3 and older, they became captivated. Now, after three races in each of the five divisions of MATCH, Tagg and Backer stand atop the leader board for their share of $550,000 in trainer and owner bonuses.

The five-month racing series known as MATCH (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships) will conclude its third year as it concluded its first two: The outcome won't be decided until the final day.And that day is Saturday, when the last race in each of the five divisions will take place at Delaware Park, Philadelphia Park, Penn National and the Meadowlands.Three horses can still win the overall championship, worth $50,000 to the trainer and $100,000 to the owner. Trained by Maryland-based Barclay Tagg, Crab Grass can clinch the title by finishing third or better in the $100,000 Sweet and Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park.

Even more remarkable than Mario Pino's five consecutive victories recently at Laurel Park was that this wasn't the first time the jockey had won five races in a row.In the early 1980s Pino won five straight at Delaware Park. That may surprise bettors who have every right to wonder: How long has Pino been riding, anyway?"When I tell people how long, they say, `What?' " Pino said. "They think I've been around maybe 10 years or so."Pino has entered his third decade as a jockey. He rode his first race in 1978 when he was 17. Now 37, he has ridden long enough to have won more races in Maryland than any other jockey.

TodayA lightly raced daughter of Polish Numbers is the likely choice in the 18th running of the Pearl Necklace Stakes.The $60,000 event, for 3-year-old registered Maryland-bred fillies, will be contested at 1 1/8 miles over the grass course.Polish Polka has had only two starts, both over the turf course at Canada's Woodbine Racecourse. After winning her debut, the Stronach Stable horse took on allowance company but was overtaken at the wire after being on the lead throughout.Her chief opposition is likely to come from either Jazz, owned by William Backer, or Hal Claggett's Silent Valay.

America's leading rider passed another milestone this week.Edgar Prado scored his 400th victory of 1998, leading his agent, Steve Rushing, to establish 1,000 over two years as the next career challenge."

STANTON, Del. -- As the slot machines jingled -- and, boy, do they jingle at Delaware Park -- the tote system whirred as it calculated the astronomical payoffs of yesterday's Delaware Handicap.They read like this: $85.80 to win, $26.40 to show, $1,012.60 exacta, $29,088 trifecta.That's what happens when the 4-5 and 9-5 choices run like long shots and the 41-1, 25-1 and 108-1 long shots run one-two-three.Amarillo, a 4-year-old filly trained by Maryland native John Forbes and ridden by Julie Krone, blew by the previously undefeated Relaxing Rhythm and the Eclipse Award-winning Ajina on her way to a stunning victory in the richest race ever run at Delaware Park.

Following an inaugural season that boiled down to the last race on the last day, the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships (MATCH) are back this year with 35 races at seven tracks in five states.Last year, the innovative series made history when, for the first time, track managements and horsemen's groups from different states banded together to create a regional racing competition.Released yesterday, this year's schedule will be nearly identical to last year's arrangement: seven races in five divisions that will begin April 18 at Pimlico and will end Oct. 3 with finales in each division.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL Preakness day has assured track owners of a profitable year. But the threat from slot machines at Delaware tracks (and soon at the Charles Town, W.Va., oval) undercuts efforts to keep first-rate thoroughbred racing at Pimlico. It also raises the disturbing possibility of the Preakness leaving town.Pimlico is not alone in its troubles. Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, has been hurt by riverboat casinos. In response, the track slashed admissions and other charges to boost attendance, with some positive results.

After 41 races in Maryland, Mary's Buckaroo competed outside the state for the first time yesterday, rallied from last and won the $100,000, six-furlong Wilmington Handicap at Delaware Park in Stanton.Trained by Mary JoAnne Hughes, the son of Roo Art and Mary Bo Peep prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths under Maryland-based Mario Verge and paid $6.40 to win.It was the 6-year-old's 14th triumph and increased his earnings to $598,433.Pub Date: 6/15/97

The slots parlors coming to Maryland are expected to feature electronic gambling terminals that incorporate popular game shows, celebrities and even life-size digitized blackjack and poker dealers. The state's effort to purchase such elaborate machines could begin as soon as next week and would mark a major milestone for a program that has gotten under way in fits and starts since voters approved slots last year. But the strategy could saddle taxpayers with millions of dollars per year in additional costs in the middle of a state budget crisis and faces criticism from gambling foes who say the parlors once described as limited forays into gambling are becoming more like full-blown casinos.

In the arms race of legalized gambling, Delaware last week pushed its chips "all in" as Gov. Jack Markell signed a bill legalizing sports betting and table games. If all goes as planned (and professional sports leagues are unsuccessful in their legal attempts to ensure it doesn't), the state's three racinos could be taking sports bets by fall and running table games before the end of the year. This makes Maryland the proverbial Pakistan of the gambling cold war. We may have recently gotten the big one - slots - but our arsenal-in-progress is a pittance compared to the major players.

Jockey Jeremy Rose, coming off a three-month suspension for striking a horse in the face at Delaware Park, ended a frustrating day at the Maryland Million at Laurel Park yesterday when he won the $200,000 Ladies, the seventh race of the day, aboard Miss Lombardi. Until then, Rose - who has said he did not intentionally whip Appeal to the City in the face during a race June 23 - had been on chalk or near-favorite entries in the first five races yesterday. But although he finished in the money in four of those races, he managed nothing better than a second place, in the $200,000 Turf, the fourth race, with Dr. Rico.

About this time of the year a set of news stories appear to reveal how the spectator side of thoroughbred racing is about to perish. I read the accounts about Pimlico's fallen glory days and that the stands are empty, except for Preakness day. When it comes to racing, I am not unprejudiced. I grew up learning about the track and was smitten by the beauty of the horses and the social tone and demeanor of the colorful spectators. I'm not a good handicapper, but I believe in having a good time, Baltimore-style, just the way that Pimlico delivers.

STANTON, Del. -- Jockey Mario Pino entered yesterday's races at Delaware Park needing two wins to become the 15th rider to reach 6,000 career victories, but he received startling news before his first mount. One of his victories at that track last month was taken away because his horse tested positive for an illegal substance. Therefore, instead of needing two victories for the milestone, Pino needed three and ended the day with one first-place finish in his six races. "It was tough because you think every victory counts," said Pino, who lives in Ellicott City.

Sindy With an S took her time yesterday coming down the backstretch, but when it came time to go, the 3-year-old Broken Vow filly listened to jockey Jeremy Rose and made her move in midstretch before pulling away to win the Grade III $200,000 Safely Kept Stakes. The Safely Kept is for 3-year-old fillies and run over six furlongs on Laurel Park's main, dirt track. The race is named for the first sprinter to have earned more than $2 million and the first Maryland-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race, the Sprint-G1 in 1990.

Looking forward to gaining clearance from her doctor April 18 to return to riding, jockey Anna "Rosie" Napravnik said she has major changes planned for when she gets back in the saddle. The Eclipse Award runner-up for apprentice jockey last season, Napravnik said she has come upon an opportunity too good to pass up and will move her riding base from Maryland to Delaware Park. As part of that arrangement, she will also begin working with agent Steve Rushing, recognized as the top jockey agent in the Mid-Atlantic.

Jockey Mario Pino was sitting back on the couch in the office of the Laurel Park clerk of scales on a recent afternoon, and, quite uncharacteristically, he couldn't stop talking. "I've never heard Mario talk so much," said jockey Jeremy Rose, who was in the room during Pino's conversation with a reporter. "Once you get him going, he likes to talk about horses," said scale clerk Adam Campola. These days, Pino - who has been based in Maryland for most of his career - has a lot to talk about.

Maryland racing shifts to the quaint Timonium track today for the annual meeting held in conjunction with the state fair. For the third straight year, the stand will be limited to eight programs, the outgrowth of cutbacks in purse subsidies, and will feature only two stakes offering $50,000 each to Maryland-bred horses. Live racing will not be conducted Monday or Tuesday at a meet that concludes on Labor Day, but simulcast betting will be available at the track. Post time is 1 p.m. daily.

Mike Gill, the leading owner of thoroughbreds in the country, said yesterday he plans on dispersing his 300 horses over the next two years and getting out of the horse business. With more than 100 horses stabled at Laurel Park and the Bowie Training Center, Gill said the problems that have dogged him in recent months have taken the fun out of winning races. Delaware Park has prohibited him from racing horses there. Gill leads the country's owners in wins and recently broke the record for most wins at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.