Maryland Jockey Club

When Gov. Martin O'Malley proposed an emergency plan to subsidize Maryland's thoroughbred tracks this year, we supported it. Without subsidies, the number of racing days would have been slashed, and even the running of the Preakness was at legitimate risk. For better or worse, the slots bill Maryland's legislature and voters approved included subsidies for horse racing, and if the form those subsidies took — an increase in racing purses and bred funds — wasn't the right way to keep the tracks running, diverting them to direct operating support made sense.

Ramon Dominguez , who won 1,010 races in Maryland, has retired from horse racing after suffering a head injury at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York on Jan. 18. The 36-year-old jockey announced his retirement through the New York Racing Association on Thursday morning. "While I hoped and even expected to be able to return to the saddle, as a result of my injuries and upon the advice of my treating physicians, it has been determined that I will no longer be able to pursue my career as a jockey," Dominguez said in a statement.

In his recent commentary, "Too many Md. politicians have chalk on the shoes" (May 25), Douglas Schmidt gets points for originality for inventing a standard he can use to smear people who have committed no crime. However, he uses it mostly to smear innocent Democrats while not mentioning GOP officials who have done the same things. He neglected to mention that GOP candidate Ellen Sauerbrey not only maxed out donations from the Maryland Jockey Club to push for slots, but received donations from a scheme in which it traded contributions with a maxed-out contributor to New York Gov. George Pataki.

Photo captions with an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun in Anne Arundel about a proposal to build housing for backstretch workers at Laurel Park misidentified Robert DiPietro. DiPietro is president of the real estate division of the Maryland Jockey Club, which is part owner of Laurel Park.The Sun regrets the error.Pub Date: 4/24/97

Racing information The Sun's horse racing entries from Pimlico and Laurel now include comments on each race from Maryland Jockey Club handicapper and analyst Frank Carulli. In addition, The Sun will regularly run meet standings for jockeys and trainers. The Sun, however, has discontinued publishing expanded racing charts, effective today.

Baltimore Baby! I was so proud how the Maryland Jockey Club had fixed up Pimlico for the Preakness. Every building, every railing and sign - all were freshly painted with magnificent yellow flowers everywhere! Baltimore is first class! Jim Holechek, Baltimore

Laurel Park will not conduct live racing Wednesday because of the wintry mix that has hit the region, the Maryland Jockey Club announced in news release Wednesday morning. Laurel and Pimlico Race Course will be open for simulcasting. Live racing is expected to return to the Central Maryland track Thursday, with a nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m.

After carefully reading your front page story about slots in relation to Tuesday's election ("Maryland Jockey Club to curtail operations," Nov. 3), it would seem that one solution that would solve many of the problems of Baltimore City, the Maryland Jockey Club, the state of Maryland and the average citizen would be to reconsider slots at Pimlico Race Course . I know the residents of the area raised a mild protest, which sent all politicians and state and local officials scampering away from the idea.

There's a funny double-standard regarding the Preakness infield party and public drunkenness. A few years ago, when the celebrating was going full-throttle and the infield was teeming with intoxicated revelers, the spectacle was deemed unacceptable by the Maryland Jockey Club. Drastic measures were taken to reshape the Preakness' image. But now that they have a "classy" marketing icon in Kegasus, it's OK for the infield imbibers to come back and party until they drop. Baltimore has once again done its level best to blaspheme what used to be a classy jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown.

The Maryland Jockey Club is sponsoring "Fan Appreciation Day" today at Pimlico, during which fans can watch races from around the world, including the Belmont Stakes.Gates open at 9: 45 a.m. and admission to the grandstand is free. Hot dogs and soda are being sold for $1, and each fan gets a free race program.Pub Date: 6/05/99