LAUREL, MD. 03-13-12---Frank Carulli, the Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park handicapper and racing analyst since January 2002, will be leaving the company at the conclusion of the Pimlico spring meet, which ends June 8. Carulli will be relocating to Las Vegas.

Next week (March 20-23) at Laurel Park, the Maryland Jockey Club will have four guest handicappers vie for Carulli’s on-air role as the Pimlico and Laurel television host. 

“We are sorry to see Frank leave,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “He is an extremely hard-worker who takes pride in his work, especially establishing the morning line where he is one of the best in the business. He gave us a year’s notice that he was leaving which has given us the chance to look long and hard for a replacement. We thought this format would be the best way to determine the winner.”

The four contenders are: Ryan Fogelsonger (March 20), Dylan Smith (March 21), Jackie Savoye (March 22) and Gabby Gaudet (March 23). 

Fogelsonger, 31, won 1,303 races as a jockey and captured eight riding titles at the Maryland tracks. The 2002 Eclipse Award winning apprentice has not ridden since early November when he suffered a concussion during a spill.

Smith, 24, has worked for trainer Dickie Small since graduating from Kennedy High School in the Washington D.C. suburbs in 2006.

Savoye is currently an assistant trainer for Dale Capuano. The 25-year-old South River High School graduate did on-air work at Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park two years ago.

Gaudet, the daughter of longtime conditioners Eddie and Linda Gaudet, is finishing up her final semester at Towson University, where she is studying mass communication and graphic design.

“It will be an interesting contest,” added Chuckas. “Ryan was a good interview when he was riding but can he transition that to the set? Jackie and Gabby seem to be naturals in front of the camera, while Dylan is an astute handicapper. With their backgrounds, all four can provide unique perspectives while trying to pick winners. We want to see who steps up and takes the position.”

Equibase chart caller Keith Feustle, who co-hosts the “Today At The Races” pre-race show on the Maryland simulcast signal with track announcer Dave Rodman since the fall 2011, will take over Carulli’s morning line duties beginning with the Laurel fall meet in September. Feustle has been the morning line maker at Colonial Downs since 2003.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.