LAUREL, MD. 09-24-14---Veteran riders Oscar Mancilla and Richard Monterrey visited the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Wednesday afternoon as part of the Jockeys Guild effort to bring awareness to pediatric cancer during the month of September.

Mancilla and Monterrey took part in the weekly BINGO television show with host Annie Woods Beatson and gave out racing goggles and Laurel Park caps to kids.

“It went very well,” Monterrey said. “We spoke through video and told the kids we had some gifts for them. I told them how we use the goggles and why we use them during the races. It was a neat experience. I am grateful for the opportunity. It is always nice to give back. It was an unbelievable experience for us, not only as jockeys but as human beings. To see how the other side and how Johns Hopkins helps make their lives better is something I will never forget. I was just happy to be able to put smiles on the faces. It was a joy.”

Founded in 1912 as the children's hospital of Johns Hopkins, the Johns Hopkins Children's Center offers one of the most comprehensive pediatric medical programs in the country, with more than 92,000 patient visits and nearly 9,000 admissions a year. As the birthplace of academic pediatrics in the United States more than a century ago, the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center has been at the forefront of biomedical research. It is consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. It is Maryland's largest children’s hospital and the only state-designated Trauma Service and Burn Unit for pediatric patients. It has recognized Centers of Excellence in dozens of pediatric subspecialties, including allergy, cardiology, cystic fibrosis, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, pulmonary, and transplant. For more information, visit www.hopkinschildrens.org.

About Laurel Park
Laurel Park 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.