Spring brings renewal, and that was the feeling among some horsemen
Wednesday, when the Maryland Jockey Club released a Pimlico spring
stakes schedule that includes the return of the Grade III Allaire duPont
Distaff on Preakness Day and a $100,000 boost to the purse for the day
before's Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
The MJC unveiled the stakes schedule after reaching agreement with the
Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Maryland Horse Breeders
Association. All that remains is for the Maryland Racing Commission to
approve it Feb. 15 at its monthly meeting at Laurel Park.
"It certainly will be good for racing to get things back to at least
where they were and perhaps a little ahead," said Chris Grove, who
trained Silmaril to victory in the 2005 duPont Distaff. "That's all
good. I'm not one of the trainers who will likely benefit from Preakness
weekend stakes, but maybe it's a sign that the slots money, as it
continues to come in, will begin benefiting the everyday races."
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