Larry Reynolds faced a difficult decision Wednesday night: Stay close to his infant son, Austin, who was in intensive care with fluid in his lungs, or lose a potentially lucrative day riding on yesterday's card at Laurel Park.
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending on both fronts.
Not only is Reynolds' 3-day-old son much improved and out of danger, but the proud father also rode five winners at Laurel yesterday, picking up a $3,000-plus paycheck for his day's work.
"I told my agent I didn't care what kind of mounts I was on, I was going to be with my wife, Lori, and our son if I was needed," Reynolds, 24, said. "But then everything worked out OK. When I was at Charles Town, I had ridden five winners in a night, but five winners on one card is something I've never done since I came to Maryland a little over two years ago."
Reynolds, who stayed with his wife and baby on Tuesday and missed riding, jumped to second place in the Laurel jockey standings, one win behind Edgar Prado.
Reynolds' winners yesterday were Cecconi (first race, $13.40), Sarah's Champ (third race, $8.20), Gentleman Jim T. (fourth race, $4.80), Old Devil Moon (sixth race, $10.40) and Sir Corbiere (eighth race, $9). Cecconi and Old Devil Mon were saddled by Graham Motion.
Other big days in Reynolds' career came in 1993 when he won the Maryland Million Classic with Forry Cow How and this year with his victory aboard Mz. Zill Bear in the Maryland Million Ladies stakes.
Horsemen, management agree
The board of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association met with track management yesterday and reached agreement on a number of issues that have concerned the MTHA membership.
"We went over our recommendations and the track agreed to the majority of the things we wanted," MTHA president Richard Hoffberger said.
Those recommendations, according to Lenny Hale, vice president of racing at Laurel/Pimlico, include returning to the previous structure of claiming prices, running 10 races on Thursday and Fridays -- if the horse population warrants it -- and publishing the monthly condition book, or schedule of races, a week earlier.
"There was also discussion about dropping $4,000 claiming races," Hale said. "That's something we'll consider doing in the spring, but not right now, since Charles Town and Delaware Park are shutting down for the winter."
Hale said the two groups will meet again on Wednesday to discuss guidelines for scheduling turf races next year and other issues.
Horse sale at Charles Town
The Rawlings Auctioneer Service in Charles Town, W. Va., is scheduling a sale of thoroughbreds and lead ponies at the Charles Town track on Monday, Dec. 12, the day after the half-mile oval shuts down for racing.
"Anyone who thinks this track is not closing up is deluding himself," said Bob Rawlings, an owner-trainer who also runs the auctioneering firm. Rawlings said he expects more than 100 horses to be sold. "The plywood has already been cut to start boarding up this place when the horses move out."
Many trainers are making plans to relocate their strings at Penn National Race Course in Grantsville, Pa; Mountaineer Park in Chester, W.Va.; Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N.J., or in Rawlings' case, to take them home for the winter and wait and see if the track reopens in the spring.
"One of two things could happen," Rawlings said. "The place will be sold and the new owner will reopen it. Or when the state legislature convenes in January, some kind of emergency plan will be devised. The ripple effect for about 1,000 track-related employees is going to be tremendous. I'm already planning an auction this weekend for an outrider who is getting rid of his horses and equipment."
Rawlings said there is no time to print a sales catalog for the Dec. 12 auction.