JC / Railbird

Headlines: January 22

– A snowstorm moving across the eastern half of the country today may jeopardize Laurel’s highly anticipated reopening. (Sun)
– “Ten years ago, you probably could have taken bets against Oaklawn’s survival and certainly against its continuing as a major player on the sport’s national stage,” writes Gary West. “But Oaklawn not only has survived, it has prospered” (ST) … Almost 23,000 turn out for opening day. (DRF)
Retired Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron plans to open a jockey school in Kentucky. “There’s a need for it because there is no such thing as a real legitimate jockeys’ school in this country,” said McCarron. (CJ)
Jockey Russell Baze may surpass Bill Shoemaker as second on the all-time victory list this weekend. (DRF)
NYRA announced on Friday that it, with the New York Horsemen’s Association, would fund more research in improved testing for performance-enhancing substances. The announcement followed Tuesday’s news that NYRA is developing a post-race milkshake testing program. (NYDN)
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