Mid-Atlantic racetracks were home to four of the top five jockeys in the country in 2000. Clinton Potts, Ramon Dominguez, Travis Dunkelberger and Mark Johnston finished second, third, fourth and fifth behind perennial leader Russell Baze in wins for the year. Potts (369 wins) was based in Pennsylvania. Dominguez (361) worked out of Maryland, but rode at numerous tracks. Dunkelberger (352) also called Maryland home, though he rode extensively at Charles Town. Johnston (336) was a staple of the Maryland jockey colony for the previous 10 years.

Maryland steward Phil Grove compared the Mid-Atlantic circuit to a gauntlet. "Tough, experienced, talented -- you could use all those adjectives to describe it," he said. "It's not a given anywhere you ride, but here you've got a lot of opportunity and a lot of competition. It's remarkable to have that many guys that high on the list come from the same general circuit."

Mid-Atlantic-based trainer Scott Lake led the nation by wins in 2000, his 336 victories outpacing runner-up Dale Baird (255). Lake also had by far the highest ratio of wins per starters among the leaders -- winning 32 percent of his starts (1,045).

Jim McKay, longtime ABC sportscaster and Maryland-based owner/breeder, would receive the Eclipse Award of Merit, presented in honor of an individual's lifetime achievements in racing.

McKay, who with his wife Margaret owned Bellefields farm in Monkton, Md., was also founder and chairman of the Maryland Million.