BALTIMORE---The Maryland Jockey Club
unveiled the 2006 Pimlico spring stakes schedule after reaching
agreements with both the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's
Association and Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
The headline event of the eight-week stand that begins
Thursday, April 20 is the 131st running of the $1 million
Preakness StakesŪ (Grade I), the middle jewel of the famed
Triple Crown, on May 20. The 31-day meeting at the historic
Baltimore track will conclude Saturday, June 10, pending
approval by the Maryland Racing Commission.
The marquee meet of the Maryland racing season will feature
27 stakes races for purses of $4.455 million. Purses for
thirteen races were increased from a year ago, while just one
was decreased. Fourteen of the added-money races, including all
10 of the graded stakes for the meet, are slated for Preakness
week, including nine on Preakness Day.
"Springtime in Maryland is always an exciting time," said Lou
Raffetto, Maryland Jockey Club President and Chief Operating
Officer. "We believe that it will be even more appealing this
year as a result of the nature of the program and increases in
the stakes."
The Grade I Pimlico Special tops the May 19 card that
features four other stakes races. The Special's $500,000 purse
helps make the day the third biggest on the Maryland racing
calendar.
The opening Saturday of the spring stand (April 22) includes
five six-figure stakes races and showcases Maryland-bred and
Maryland-sired horses. Purses for the three Maryland
Million/Maryland-bred races are now $125,000, up $25,000 from a
year ago.
Other changes to the stakes schedule include:
- Changed name of Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff to Allaire
duPont Breeders' Cup Distaff.
- Increased purses of five graded races including Black-Eyed
Susan ($200,000 to $250,000), Dixie ($200,000 to $250,000) and
Adena Stallions' Miss Preakness ($100,000 to $125,000).
Pimlico has increased its share of the purses to both Allaire
duPont Breeders' Cup Distaff and Maryland Breeders' Cup
Sprint, from $100,000 to $125,000.
- Added Baltimore Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint to Preakness
undercard (formerly Ben Cohen Stakes). Purse doubled to
$100,000.
- Moved Woodlawn Stakes from Preakness day to Kentucky Derby
day. Purse was dropped from $100,000 to $75,000.
- Discontinued Deputed Testamony Stakes-opting for Shine
Again Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares.
- Added Hoover Stakes to spring schedule (previously run
during Laurel winter stand).
The Pimlico racing office expects to card 10 races a day on
Thursday, Friday and Sunday and have an 11-race program on
Saturday. The May 19 and 20 cards will feature 13 races.
"The four day racing week will allow us to create a stronger
racing program for our fans across the country," added Raffetto.
"The increases in the stakes, particularly during Preakness
week, will make it more desirable than ever for horsemen to come
to Pimlico to support the best racing Maryland has to offer."
First post for 27 days of the meeting will be 1:10 p.m. with
adjustments on Preakness (10:30 a.m.), Pimlico
Special-Black-Eyed Susan (12:15 p.m.), Kentucky Derby (12:45
p.m.) and Belmont Stakes (12:45 p.m.) days.
|
Date |
Track |
Stakes |
Grade |
Conditions |
Distance |
Purse |
|
22-Apr |
Pimlico |
Jim McKay Breeders' Cup Handicap |
3 & UP |
1 1/8 mile |
200,000 |
|
22-Apr |
|
Tesio |
|
3 YO |
1 1/8 mile |
150,000 |
|
22-Apr |
|
Maryland
Stallion Station |
|
3 YO |
6 furlongs |
125,000 |
|
22-Apr |
|
Country Life Farm |
|
3 YO Fillies |
1 1/16 mile |
125,000 |
|
22-Apr |
|
Northview Stallion Station |
|
F& M 3 & UP |
1 1/8 mile |
125,000 |
|
23-Apr |
|
Hoover |
|
3 & UP |
6 furlongs |
75,000 |
|
29-Apr |
|
Henry Clark |
|
3 & UP |
1 mile (T) |
85,000 |
|
30-Apr |
|
Xtra Heat |
|
3 YO Fillies |
5 furlongs |
60,000 |
|
6-May |
|
Woodlawn |
|
3 YO |
1 1/16 mile (T) |
75,000 |
|
13-May |
|
Hilltop Breeders' Cup |
|
3 YO Fillies |
1 1/16 mile (T) |
85,000 |
|
19-May |
|
Pimlico Special |
I |
3 & UP |
1 3/16 mile |
500,000 |
|
19-May |
|
Black-Eyed Susan |
II |
3 YO Fillies |
1 1/8 mile |
250,000 |
|
19-May |
|
Allaire duPont Breeders' Cup Distaff |
III |
F& M 3 & UP |
1 1/16 mile |
200,000 |
|
19-May |
|
Adena Stallions' Miss Preakness |
III |
3 YO Fillies |
6 furlongs |
125,000 |
|
19-May |
|
The Very One |
|
F& M 3 & UP |
5 furlongs (T) |
75,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Preakness |
I |
3 YO |
1 3/16 mile |
1,000,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Dixie |
II |
3 & UP |
1 1/8 mile (T) |
250,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Maryland
Breeders' Cup Sprint |
III |
3 & UP |
6 furlongs |
200,000 |
|
20-May |
|
William Donald Schaefer |
III |
3 & UP |
1 1/8 mile |
100,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Gallorette |
III |
F&M 3 & UP |
1 1/16 mile (T) |
100,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Hirsch Jacobs |
III |
3 YO |
6 furlongs |
100,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Sir Barton |
|
3 YO |
1 1/16 mile |
100,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Baltimore
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint |
|
3 & UP |
5 furlongs (T) |
100,000 |
|
20-May |
|
Murmur Farm Starter |
|
3 & UP |
1 1/16 mile |
50,000 |
|
27-May |
|
Shine Again |
|
F& M 3 & UP (MD-breds) |
1 1/16 mile |
50,000 |
|
3-Jun |
|
Pearl Necklace |
|
3 YO Fillies (MD-breds) |
1 1/16 mile (T) |
75,000 |
|
10-Jun |
|
Skipat |
|
F& M 3 & UP |
6 furlongs |
75,000 |
