All systems go for reopening

The Maryland Racing Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a request by Laurel Park to begin live racing spectatorfree as of Saturday, with racing conducted at the track after the first weekend on a Friday and Saturday schedule.

The approval was issued one day after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan began relaxing some restrictions on businesses in the state, effective Friday afternoon. However, Hogan, in his public remarks, did not specifically mention racetracks. Officials for the owner of Laurel Park, The Stronach Group, told commissioners during the meeting, which was conducted via teleconference, that they believed the plan to re-open was within Hogan’s executive orders on business operations.

“We have taken a very clear read on the executive order, and we believe we are in compliance,” said Alan Rifkin, general counsel for the Maryland tracks owned by The Stronach Group, who has deep contacts in state government.

Earlier in the meeting, Rifkin had said that he wanted to “clarify” with the commission that Hogan had never explicitly ordered Laurel Park to shut down. Laurel Park last raced March 15, on the same day that Hogan issued a “shelter in place” order to the state.

In response to that statement, Tom Bowman, a commissioner, asked Rifkin why the track chose this weekend to return to live racing. Rifkin answered that Hogan’s press conference on Wednesday night had demonstrated that the state’s COVID-19 numbers were now in decline.

“We, like everyone, were looking to see a downward turn in the virus,” Rifkin said. “We’ve been watching these numbers very carefully.”

On Tuesday, the racing office at Laurel Park quietly took entries for the “first day” of its condition book, in anticipation that the track could be allowed to resume racing as soon as this weekend. The 10 races on the first day of the book drew 144 entries, including also-eligibles. The track drew a Sunday card on Wednesday, with 10 races as well.

Laurel will limit live racing to Fridays and Saturdays after the opening weekend, Rifkin said, in order to maintain higher average purses. Casinos in the state that provide ample subsidies to racing have been closed since mid-March, and the facilities are not thought to be high on the priority list of state government officials for reopening.

“The purse account has to be considered as to the number of race days and when,” Rifkin said. “I think we’re in a little bit of a new universe at the moment, and I think we want to take it slowly at first.”

Technically, the motion approved by the commission allows for a “summer meet” through Aug. 22. However, the motion allows Laurel to come back to the commission for amendments to the request, which could include opening for spectators sometime down the road.

The 10-race card Saturday is anchored by an optional-claiming race with a purse of $47,000. The race will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The rest of the card includes four maiden races, four claiming races, and a starter allowance/optionalclaiming race. All but the ninth race, a $5,000 claiming race, drew full fields. First post is 12:40 p.m. Eastern.