Victor Carrasco

Amid glowing opinions from stakeholders that the work-in-progress new dirt surface at Laurel Park has improved dramatically after eight equine fatalities from main-track fractures there this autumn, racing has been greenlighted to proceed as scheduled Dec. 16 for the first time in 18 days. The Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) determined during a Tuesday tele-meeting that it didn't technically need to take a vote for racing to resume, but the board made sure to solicit ample feedback from jockeys, trainers, track executives, track surface consultants and veterinarians before issuing a verbal...

5th-Laurel, $48,520, Msw, 12-12, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.31, ft, 12 1/4 lengths. MANOR HOUSE (c, 2, Upstart--Cascina, by Dixie Union) could scarcely have been more impressive making his debut over Laurel's one-turn mile Saturday, as he drew off through the final furlong to graduate by 12 1/4 lengths. The Florida-bred was away to an uneventful beginning from the two hole and made the lead with a minimum of fuss, covering the opening half in :47.50 while taking mild pressure. He began to widen approaching the quarter pole, kicked farther in front...

Victor Carrasco recorded the 1,000 victory of his career when he guided Justin Front (Justin Phillip) to a 1 1/4-length score Sunday at Laurel. "It's a great feeling," Carrasco said of the milestone. "After dealing with so many injuries and having some health issues and everything, it feels amazing." Carrasco won the Eclipse Award as the nation's leading apprentice rider in 2013. The 27-year-old, a native of Guyama, Puerto Rico, graduated from the famed Escuela Vocacional Hipica jockey school and won 11 races in his home country before coming to...