Laurel bans out-of-state shippers in response to coronavirus

Laurel Park in Maryland on Thursday closed its backstretch to all shippers other than horses stabled at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and will scratch all horses that are stabled at other tracks for the race cards scheduled for Friday and Saturday, the state’s horsemen group said in an alert to its members.

The ban on ship-ins became effective immediately, the alert said. Although Laurel began banning spectators last week due to the impact of the coronavirus impact, the track is continuing to run.

“The decision is part of a series of precautionary and safety measures put in place by The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association given the coronavirus situation,” the alert said. Laurel and Pimlico are operated by The Maryland Jockey Club, which is a subsidiary of The Stronach Group.

Laurel has a 10-race card scheduled for Friday and an 11-race card scheduled for Saturday. The alert said that owners will now be banned as well, and that racing will continue to be conducted “with access severely limited to essential racing personnel only.”

According to the alert, the MTHA board of directors has also voted to reduce the amount of the purse bonus going to fifth place from 4 percent to 3 percent, and reduce the purse bonus going to horses that finish sixth through last from 4 percent to 2 percent. Total purses will remain unchanged, the MTHA said.