Beyer on Maryland Racing

[phystech]

Originally Posted by justindew

http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do...8&subs=0&arc=0

In this article, Andy Beyer suggests that the only racing in Maryland should be a short meet at Pimlico from early April through the end of May. He feels racing at Laurel should end completely.

Here's my question (note: This is a question, not a criticism. I want to make that clear since there seems to be a problem here with interpreting questions as jabs):

If Maryland only conducted live racing for 7 or 8 weeks a year, would that actually help the industry financially? It seems that even with better racing and increased purse money per race, there would be less revenue to go around. Am I wrong?

I actually like the idea. I think we would see much better horses in MD. But would it do much to help MD racing?

No, this would not help MD racing or MD horsemen. Opening Pimlico for a short meet would help bring Pimlico back into the spotlight, assuming purses would be raised and many more stake races would be funded. Obviously, the building would have to be upgraded also.

The losers would be the MD breeders, since there would no longer be a need for MD-breds, and the average MD owner/trainer. A short but sweet Pimlico meet would mostly attract better horses from all over - and while that's great for the fans, most of us longtime MD owners would be shoved aside because most of our stock couldn't compete during the high end meet.

Closing Laurel won't solve MD racing's problems. If anything shortening the Laurel meet so it runs from mid-Aug to Jan 1, with the niche being turf racing, seems like the best idea to me. MD would also need to develop a circuit with Delaware Park and Colonial.

My 2009 circuit dates would look like this:

Apr 18 to Preakness Day - Pimlico
May 20 to July 4 - Delaware Park
July 5 to Aug 16 - Colonial Downs
Aug 21 to Jan 1 - Laurel

Bowie Training Center needs to be closed. Pimlico would close a few days after the Preakness - no training. Laurel would stay open year round for training.