Maryland racing fans are continuing to pour their dollars into the state's pari-mutuel machines at a record volume, pumping nearly $53 million through the windows during the first six weeks of 1995.
During the same period last year, many live racing cards at Laurel Park, including a couple of lucrative Saturdays, were canceled because of treacherous weather, and the handle reflected it. Only $30 million had been bet at the Maryland outlets this time last year. The 75 percent turnaround makes last year's winter of discontent seem like a distant memory.
"We took our lumps when business was poor in 1992 and 1993 and through the first couple of months last year," said track president Joe De Francis. "But that atmosphere of negativity has now turned around 180 degrees. People are coming back to the races and that's reflected in this huge surge in business."
The weather, of course, is a major factor. But De Francis points out that this January was the best in Laurel history, outperforming the previous record January in 1989 by more than $4 million in gross receipts.
"I think the upswing results from a combination of factors," he said. "The ownership dispute at the tracks has dissolved. My sister [Karin De Francis] has joined the team and we can devote all of our time to running the business. We have lots to work on, but I think people sense we're trying and we're able to be more efficient.
"Secondly, we've enhanced how we present our multicard product and we've also been able to maintain quality in our live racing program. Our general manager, John Mooney, has been in Florida the last few days and he reports positive response from talking to a number of stables in the backstretch about the good things they hear that are happening in Maryland."
De Francis said that although more expenses now come out of the total handle, largely from paying simulcast fees to sending tracks, the amount wagered on Maryland live races at out-of-state outlets also must be figured into the total equation.
"That almost balances out the income generated from previous record revenues in a year like 1989 when there was only live racing," he said, adding that during the first six weeks of 1995 an additional $18 million had been bet on Laurel's live card at out-of-state outlets.
'Dream race' dissipates
When Holy Bull pulled up lame during the running of the Donn Handicap and was retired yesterday, Maryland racing lost a potential "dream race" in this year's Pimlico Special.
Laurel/Pimlico management had talked to Jimmy Croll, owner-trainer of Holy Bull, and Robert Meyerhoff, owner of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Concern, and both men had agreed to point their horses for the Special if the race was moved from May 13 to May 7 to accommodate Holy Bull's schedule.
Croll wanted more time between races to prepare Holy Bull for a start in the Metropolitan Mile on May 31 at Belmont Park, "and Mr. Meyerhoff was extremely gracious in saying that it would be a good thing for Maryland racing if both horses met at Pimlico and that he'd go in the race with Concern even if it was moved," said Lenny Hale, Laurel/Pimlico's vice president of racing.
In their last meeting in August 1994, Concern narrowly lost by a head to Holy Bull in the Travers Stakes.
Now, with the anticipated dream match out of the picture, the Special will be run May 13.
White Cliffs wins again
Long shot Norstep made a surprising late move but couldn't catch White Cliffs yesterday in Laurel's $60,000 Jameela Stakes.
White Cliffs has won three straight sprint stakes and earned $87,795 in a six-week period for her Houston owner, Ralph O'Connor.
Winning jockey Rick Wilson said White Cliffs easily out-sprinted the field, but was loafing in the stretch when Norstep made her unexpected late run.
"But I hit her [White Cliffs] a couple of times, although I didn't even twirl my whip," Wilson said, "and she responded."
The 3-year-old daughter of Dover Ridge won by three quarters of a length and was timed in the six furlongs in 1 minute and 11 seconds.