Revamping Racing’s Future Part 2: Readers Speak Out


In the November 2019 issue of Te Equiery,


we published an article on a new proposal to revamp both Pimlico Racecourse and Laurel Park. Te article detailed the background on why the proposal was created, who was in- volved in creating the proposal, the proposal’s details, and feedback from various Maryland Toroughbred industry leaders. Afterwards, we asked you, our Equiery read-


ers, to send us your opinions and thoughts on the proposal. Here are the responses we re- ceived via email and social media. If you would like to voice your thoughts, please email edi- tor@equiery.com.


[I have been an] Assistant Trainer in Mary-


land for 20 years. Live in Laurel, train at Laurel Park. Yes I like the proposal, don’t like the idea to have to move and drive somewhere (either Pimlico or Bowie) while they renovate Laurel for the three or four years that’s going to take. I love the Pimlico proposal; rather don’t love the extreme extended renovations at Laurel. I think they have an interesting idea with three surfaces and all the horses training at Laurel, worried about the logistics of it. Right now the track is overcrowded at times in the morning. – Eveline Kjelstrup


As a Maryland resident, I don’t know enough about how the State has subsidized racing for jobs and community development. If I knew more about that, I might have an opinion as a voter about a private company receiving subsi- dies changing the way they will use the money. As a horse owner, I fear that racing has got-


ten bad press of late and know that the animal rights activist intend to use the rate of cata- strophic injuries in racing to end the sport. Tis racetrack owner is under attack in California and the owner’s family is embroiled in lawsuits that could disrupt their racing business here in Maryland. As a citizen, I don’t believe the government should dictate what a private business does or doesn’t do with its real property. If they want to consolidate resources and save one track and make it better, I would be in favor of letting them do so so they will remain in business in Maryland. – Didi Culp


Waste of money just move the Preakness to Laurel. – Mark Shepperd


For the most part I support the plan. Tis is what I will miss: 1-Keeping Pimlico as a sole-use track but I understand that can’t happen. 2-Shifting the track but I also understand this has to happen


3-I hate the idea of losing the Laurel pad- dock. It’s beautiful and I love old historical architecture.


What I do like: 1-New barns at Laurel 2-Tapeta surface 3-Year round racing continued 4-Almost all racing at Laurel


[I’ve] worked in the Toroughbred industry for 30 years as owner, trainer, horse farm owner, ex- ercise rider and also have placed several retired racehorses. – Lisa Geraghty


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I actually read this word for word. It all sounds very interesting and promising.


I wouldn’t


know where to begin. I’m trying to suggest other alternatives; this is a complex situation and proposal. It sounds like a lot of hard work and thinking went into this. And I dare say that having Steuart Pitman as Anne Arundel County Executive certainly helped this project along! And I also applaud the retired racehorse projects that endeavor to help the true stars of racing, the horse. - LuAnne Levens


I’m in full support of revamping both tracks!


So many hardworking people, the horses de- serve better! Racing is their livelihood! – Donna Tatham


I am in favor of the proposal, especially with regards to the “super track” at Laurel.


It is


important to condense operations to preserve money (resources) currently being divided be- tween redundant/competing tracks. A modern, accessible and appealing track with horse com- fort and health at its core will be a feather in the cap of the mid-Atlantic racing. I am speak- ing from the perspective of an equine veteri- nary surgeon in the region who has a financial interest in a strong racing, training and breed- ing community. – Morton Adams


I think it’s great bringing horses back in the


news/papers… Make it what it used to be! – Stephanie Dean-Hardesty


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