Horse Racing

In another time, Maryland was a hotbed for horse racing, its history rich and its purses comparable to other states. It was a place where jockeys could make a career and not have to contemplate leaving for New York or California. Since the late 1980s, and maybe longer, being an up-and-coming rider at Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park has been akin to being a burgeoning major league star at Camden Yards. Bigger markets — with longer racing seasons and more lucrative purses — beckon.

As the man responsible for rebuilding Sagamore Farm shook hands with the son of the man who oversaw its halcyon days, Tiger Walk stood stoically in his stall. The other horses in the barn had long since poked their heads out in response to commotion created by television crews and a small gathering of reporters. Tiger Walk faced the other way, looking out his window. Kevin Plank, the Under Armour founder and CEO who bought Sagamore Farm in 2007, hopes Tiger Walk can remain unflappable.

Maryland horse racing got exposed for a lack of oversight Tuesday during an appeal to have the Rick Dutrow-trained King and Crusader reinstated as the winner of the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park. Dutrow and his horse's owner James Riccio lost the appeal, but Maryland horse racing may have lost more, as officials at Laurel Park were found to have not followed all of the proper procedures on the night of that December race. "I'm stabled at Laurel Park," said John Robb, the trainer of Glib, the second-place finisher who was declared the winner of the Juvenile Championship.

While Rick Dutrow appeals to the Maryland Racing Commission on Tuesday to have his horse King and Crusader reinstated as the winner of the $75,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park, his future continues to hang in the balance because of another case in New York. Dutrow is facing what is considered to be the harshest penalty ever handed down in New York state horse racing. Barring a successful appeal of that case, Dutrow could lose his trainer's license for 10 years, a penalty that most states, including Maryland, would abide by, virtually costing him his livelihood.

It takes a few seconds to realize what you are looking at. The Sunday cover of The New York Times always features one of the very best photographs taken in the world that week, and those shots are very often quite jarring. In some faraway land, you often learn with your first sip of coffee that people are living through the unthinkable. But this Sunday's cover didn't cause an immediate, visceral reaction. This took some studying. Set in the middle of the page -- and not very deep -- was a horizontal photo.

HBO's horse-racing series Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, came to an abrupt end Wednesday after the death of a third horse during filming earlier in the week. Here's the statement issued by HBO: It is with heartbreak that executive producers David Milch and Michael Mann together with HBO have decided to cease all future production on the series LUCK.   Safety is always of paramount concern.  We maintained the highest safety standards throughout production, higher in fact than any protocols existing in horseracing anywhere with many fewer incidents than occur in racing or than befall horses normally in barns at night or pastures.  While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen and it is impossible to guarantee they won't in the future.  Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.    We are immensely proud of this series, the writing, the acting, the filmmaking, the celebration of the culture of horses, and everyone involved in its creation.    Quote from Michael Mann and David Milch:  “The two of us loved this series, loved the cast, crew and writers.  This has been a tremendous collaboration and one that we plan to continue in the future.” When asked for clarification via email, an HBO spokeswoman said this is the end of "Luck.

Maryland horse racing may be on shaky ground, but Laurel Park in winter is still appealing to a number of trainers from outside the state. With the 48-day winter meet set to begin at Laurel Park on Jan. 4, and the weather growing colder up north, Laurel appears to be a popular haven. Twenty-five new trainers have brought their horses here, which is more than in years past. "The New England boys have been coming here for years, after their tracks' seasons end," Maryland Jockey Club racing secretary Georganne Hale said.

Maryland horsemen learned Monday afternoon they'd have to wait longer for a definitive answer on the state's racing dates for the 2012 season. "We've had productive meetings," said John McDaniel, a member of the Maryland Racing Commission who has spearheaded the discussions. "Both parties have entered the dialogue with desire to reach an agreement. " But no agreement has been reached, and the Maryland Jockey Club has not put in a request for any racing dates. Tracks often ask for 365 days as a way to meet the Dec. 1 deadline and request specific live dates later.

The man who came to town nearly a decade ago promising to be the horse racing industry's salvation has lately become its frustrating nemesis. Franck Stronach, a Canadian billionaire and racing enthusiast who has exerted an erratic will since buying the Maryland Jockey Club in 2002, has single-handedly upended a deal that was supposed to give horse and track owners and others involved in the industry time to develop a new business plan. He is now proposing an unworkable plan to lease Laurel Park to the horsemen and to run a mere 40 days a year at Pimlico - not nearly enough to sustain the industry.

When the governor and the legislature saved Maryland horse racing again this past spring, everybody knew it wouldn't be for the last time. But the deal was supposed to buy a few years, if not crowds at the tracks. It didn't even do that. Frank Stronach, the aging Canadian tycoon who owns the Maryland Jockey Club, is threatening to slash the racing schedule unless he gets concessions. For the crisis to be resolved, policymakers and horse breeders will need to understand what Stronach wants.