08/06/2008 - Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Difficult financial times have forced the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) to slash the stakes schedule for the Laurel Park fall meeting. The racing industry in Maryland faces a shortfall in the purse account by the end of 2008.
Primary among the cancelled stakes is the $300,000 De Francis Dash.
"This is terribly disappointing, but these are serious times," said Tom Chuckas, President and CEO of the MJC. "We remain hopeful that the playing field between Maryland and our neighbors to the west, north and east will be leveled and that we will be able to resume running this prominent race in the future."
The other races cut from the schedule are the Laurel Futurity and Selima Stakes, for two-year-olds, the Safely Kept Stakes, John Schapiro and the Sonny Hine.
Only state-bred or state-sired stakes races, including the 23rd running of the Maryland Million on Saturday, October 4, will be conducted during the 17-week Laurel Park meeting which runs from September 4 to December 27. A 10-day summer meeting at Laurel gets underway this Friday and concludes on Thursday, August 21.
Maryland racing is being squeezed by neighboring states that have slot machine gambling. A slots referendum will be on the November ballot.
In another cost cutting move, Pimlico Race Course will be closed for training and stabling, effective August 31.
"We understand this is an inconvenience to the horsemen and we will work with them to ensure a smooth and fluid transition," said Chuckas. "This was a business decision based on the revenue stream."
<< Rays' Crawford out with hamstring injury
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Carl Crawford
was out of the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland
Indians with a left hamstring injury.
Eric Hinske got the start in left while Gabe
<< Ancic will miss U.S. Open, again
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Croatia's Mario Ancic will miss the U.S. Open
for a third straight year, this time because of mononucleosis.
The 25th-ranked 2004 Wimbledon semifinalist missed last year's Open due to a
shoulder injury, this a
<< Mets resume set with Padres at Shea
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pedro Martinez can make it five starts overall without a
loss and 11 career victories against San Diego tonight, when the Mets host the
visiting Padres in the middle encounter of a three-game series at Shea Stadium
Now 36,
<< White Sox' Danks puts streak on line against fading Tigers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Danks will try to keep the Chicago White Sox atop the
American League Central standings when he toes the rubber tonight in the
second test of a three-game series versus the division-rival Detroit Tigers at
U.S. Ce
Marlins activate C Treanor >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins recalled catcher
Matt Treanor from his rehab assignment and activated him off the 15-day
disabled list on Wednesday.
Treanor has been out of action since July 8 with a stra
Caps extend C Steckel >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals signed center
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West Ham terminates Ljungberg's contract >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden international Freddie Ljungberg has
had his West Ham contract terminated with immediate effect.
The 31-year-old midfielder only joined the Hammers last summer from Arsenal
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Edmonton's Ray highlights CFL weekly awards >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edmonton quarterback Ricky Ray was named
CFL Offensive Player of the Week Wednesday. He was joined in Week 6 honors
by a pair of Toronto Argonauts, defensive end Jonathan Brown and return
special
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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