Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.2006 Maryland Racing Deal Reached
Posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2005
LAUREL, Md. (AP) — Maryland horsemen and race track owners said Tuesday they have reached a tentative agreement that calls for 180 days of racing in 2006, a deal that avoids sharp cuts in racing proposed earlier this year.
The deal, reached Monday night, came a day before the Maryland Racing Commission’s meeting, a deadline regulators had set for an accord. Along with racing dates, it is meant to resolve differences over cost-sharing, but officials from track owner Magna Entertainment Corp., breeders and horsemen would not release financial details until their boards review them.
The commission, which earlier had chastised both sides for not setting a 2006 schedule, approved the plan Tuesday.
Magna had originally proposed cutting the number of racing days at its two tracks, Laurel Park and Pimlico, from nearly 200 this year to 112 in 2006. The plan would have significantly reduced racing at Pimlico, a historic park that is the site of the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Alan Foreman, an attorney for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, said setting the number of racing days cleared a major stumbling block in negotiations. "We’re down to some economic issues we should be able to resolve," he said. "It’s clear we’ve made significant progress."
Joe DeFrancis, president of the Jockey Club, agrees. "The proposal fairly addresses the issues on the table," he said.
"2006 Maryland Racing Deal Reached" was posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2005 at 9:21 am and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Pimlico Track, Preakness Stakes, Race Tracks News, Triple Crown, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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