Maryland Million

Maryland Million Day celebrates the state's thoroughbred industry. From the grooms at the barns to the horse owners in their boxes, everyone involved holds their heads a little higher because of the role they play in one of the state's most important industries.But five years ago, as the revelry of the day approached a crescendo, the celebration died.The ever-popular Root Boy, running near the lead in the Maryland Million Classic, broke down. He lay in the dirt on the Laurel Park backstretch, his right front ankle shattered, his life imperiled.

I wrote a story for Saturday's paper on how the Big Ten privately agreed to subsidize Maryland's anticipated team travel costs to the tune of $20 million to $30 million. Here is the link . Maryland is scheduled to join the conference in July 2014. It anticipates its travel budget will approximately double from what it is today. There is another issue related to travel. It's how you make sure athletes on more extended road trips can avoid missing too many classes and keep up with their studies.

With a sizable106 horses signed up to run in its 11 races, the 27th Jim McKay Maryland Million on Saturday at Laurel Park dodged a bullet considering the decline in the state's foal crop the past several years. Racing not only suffered in Maryland in the face of competition from neighboring states that fueled their programs with funds from alternative gaming such as slots and table games. The breeding industry did, as well. The Maryland Million, the second biggest day on the state racing calendar after the Preakness Stakes, spotlights race horses sired by stallions that stand in the state.

Joseph B. Kelly, the dean of Maryland turf writers and nationally known thoroughbred historian who also had been the longtime racing editor of the old Washington Star, died Monday of cancer at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium. The Charles Village resident was 94. "Joe was a walking encyclopedia on the history of the Maryland horse racing industry. He was the embodiment of the Selima Room, the Woodward Collection and the Bel Air Museum and Stable all wrapped up into one," said Ross Peddicord, former Baltimore Sun racing writer who is executive director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board.

If Regal Solo, a 6-year-old gelding, wins the Maryland Million Sprint Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park, he would become the first horse to win three different Million races. "He's versatile," his trainer Damon Dilodovico said Wednesday. "He's push-button when his feet are good. And I've always thought he was better at short distances than long. " In 2007 the son of 1996 Preakness winner Louis Quatorze won the Million Nursery for 2-year-olds over 6-furlongs. Last year, he won the 1 1/8 th -mile Million Classic.

Laurel Park Famed jockeys to sign during Md. Million Legendary jockeys Laffit Pincay , Pat Day , Angel Cordero , Steve Cauthen and Jean Cruguet will be at Laurel Park to sign autographs during the 26th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million festivities Saturday afternoon. The retired riders will be signing outside the Horse Wizard Room from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. after attending Schulte Sports' Charm City Heroes 2 Autograph and Collectibles Show at the Pikesville Hilton in Baltimore County.

RACE 1: MARYLAND MILLION HANDICAP Gayquare has been a different racehorse since his return after a long time on the shelf. He hasn't been worse than second in five starts while compiling three victories. Blue Highways left Pimlico on a high note by eking out a neck victory in a very game effort. Can easily handle the mile and one-eighth opener. Asserche's latest score came over the Pimlico turf course at a mile and a half.Pickering's pick: Gayquare. Upset threat: Have You Testified.Ross Peddicord's pick: Gayquare.

The Maryland Million will be run on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Pimlico Race Course, officials of the thoroughbred horse breeders' incentive program, announced yesterday.Five of the previous six renewals of the 11-race card had been run on a Sunday, but the date was switched this year to avoid competition with pro football. It also will be a more attractive day to accommodate corporate sponsors and their guests."The Maryland Million welcomes the return to a Saturday," said Richard Wilcke, the program's executive director.

A record 164 horses have been pre-entered for the 13th Maryland Million on Oct. 17 at Laurel Park.Maryland Million pre-entries:Lassie ($100,000)Alden Ends Well, Carny's Creek, Christy's Hero, Complete Number, Countess Linda, Duck the Punch Entry Granted, Hey How You, I Shot The Sheriff, It's Off The Wall, Mysterious Jack, Perfect Challenge, Powering Glory, Root Girl, Saratoga Friends, Silent Valay, Smart Lass, Sounds Perfect, Su Alteza, Timely Irony, Two...

You'd think with Pimlico Race Course's meet closing today and racing's transfer to Laurel Park on Wednesday that everything would be hunky-dory, that everyone would be looking ahead to the Maryland Million instead of cranking their necks around to look back at Pimlico. On Saturday, the Maryland Million will take place at Laurel. It is the best and most fun day of racing anywhere. I'd like to be looking ahead, too. Why, then, did I find myself attending the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association board of directors meeting Thursday evening in Laurel?

There was no surprise and little wonder for trainer King Leatherbury, when his nearly machine-like 6-year-old gelding Ben's Cat won yet again Saturday on Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park. Victory has become expected. At age 79, with 6,349 career victories - third all-time in racing history - Leatherbury has pretty much seen it all in 53 years of training. Yet, of the thousands of horses that have passed through his barn over the years, none has been able to get it done like Ben's Cat. Bred by Leatherbury, Ben's Cat didn't even race as a 2-year-old because of a broken pelvis, but he has produced almost nothing but trips to the winner's circle since his career began three years ago. Under jockey Julien Pimentel, the dark brown speedster, sired by an obscure stallion named Parker's Storm Cat, raced in third place off dueling long shots Boltin' Out and Steady Warrior in the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint, took control at the top of the stretch and held off a late challenge from Heros Reward to win by three-quarters of a length.

What do you call a horse who stops and sights his target - the racetrack - before a workout? Target Sighted, of course. And to exercise rider Molly Moran, who arrives early to wait with the horse for the Laurel Park track to open for training at 5:30 a.m. each day, the moniker couldn't be more fitting. "It's his trademark," said Moran, who has been working the 6-year-old for trainer Fran Campitelli for the past four years. "He likes to be the first one out, and he likes to stand and look around.

With a sizable106 horses signed up to run in its 11 races, the 27th Jim McKay Maryland Million on Saturday at Laurel Park dodged a bullet considering the decline in the state's foal crop the past several years. Racing not only suffered in Maryland in the face of competition from neighboring states that fueled their programs with funds from alternative gaming such as slots and table games. The breeding industry did, as well. The Maryland Million, the second biggest day on the state racing calendar after the Preakness Stakes, spotlights race horses sired by stallions that stand in the state.

The Boniface family of Bonita Farm in Darlington has been through a lot this year. Benjamin Boniface, 20, died when he lost control of his pickup truck on the private farm lane early one morning in June after "he failed to negotiate a curve," according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. And Deputed Testamony, their home-bred who was the oldest living Triple Crown race winner and the last Maryland-bred horse to win the Preakness, passed away at age 32 in September. But the Boniface family, like their horses, is made of hardy stock.

Trainer Mike Trombetta and jockey Julian Pimentel teamed up to win three races on Saturday's 11-race card at Laurel Park. The duo scored aboard first-time starter Field Pass ($9.40) in the opener, second-time starter Chelsea Road ($6) in the fifth and completed the hat trick in the 10th race when Pimentel sent Thunderous Lady ($3.80) around traffic. Pimentel rode four winners Saturday, also taking the fourth race with Cho Time ($19). "I looked at the program this morning and thought I had a chance at a big day," Pimentel said.

The early results of Maryland's sales tax holiday are in: Retailers liked it. So did their customers. But tax policy wonks? Not so much. It will be a couple of months before the state finds out just how much it lost in sales tax revenue during its third annual back-to-school tax holiday. The state had estimated that it would forfeit about $10 million by waiving the 6 percent sales tax on clothing and shoes of up to $100. Is this good fiscal policy? Probably not. Is this money that could be better spent elsewhere by the state?

They might not have rivaled the revelry in the winner's circle after Saturday's Preakness, but the lines in front of the tellers' windows at Pimlico Race Course were abuzz with fans shouting in excitement about their winning tickets. Rick Digrigoli , of Hoover, Ala., left the window folding bills into his wallet, the result of an exacta bet on top two finishers I'll Have Another and Bodemeister. Digrigoli has been coming to the Preakness with friends for 17 years, but his win of about $46 on a $5 bet wasn't the result of experience.

Mirlande Wilson, who this week said she may have hit the record Mega Millions jackpot, told a Washington news station Thursday that she has lost the ticket. WRC-TV is reporting that Wilson said, "I misplaced it. I cannot tell you where the ticket is for my safety and my kids' safety, but I wish I could find it and get this thing over [with]. " She could not immediately be reached for comment. That's one valuable slip of paper. The record-breaking jackpot in the drawing March 30 reached $656 million, worth $105 million in a cash payout to whomever purchased the winning ticket at a Baltimore County 7-Eleven.