Maryland Racing

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Board of Directors approved a 20% Purse Bonus on all overnight races through Feb. 27 at Laurel Park Wednesday. In addition, the Maryland Jockey Club, during a meeting with the MTHA, agreed to add three Thursdays in February to the live racing calendar and said it will card at least 10 races a day in January and February when possible. First post time has been moved to 12:10 p.m. in January to accommodate extra races. Live racing at Laurel Park is scheduled to resume Sunday,...

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to begin an award program for Breeder, Owner and Stallion bonuses for registered Maryland-breds at sanctioned steeplechase race meets in Maryland. Beginning in 2022, registered Maryland-bred horses that run first, second or third will receive 30% on purses earned at National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned meets in Maryland. This program is modeled on the current bonuses paid to Maryland-breds that run at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and Timonium. The five meets that qualify for this program this year are:...

The Maryland Jockey Club confirmed the cancellation of live racing at Laurel Park through Sunday, Dec. 5 as work continues to complete repairs to the track and to analyze recent equine injuries. While racing is suspended, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the Maryland Jockey Club are working with industry experts to analyze surface composition and maintenance procedures directed at the safest possible racing surface. According to a MJC press release: "Until now, and through collaborative measures among industry participants, Maryland racing has experienced the lowest fatality rate in its...

The inclusion of an August race meet at Pimlico Race Course for the first time in 17 years was the only major change in the 2022 slate of racing dates approved Thursday by the Maryland Racing Commission. Although not discussed at the Oct. 28 meeting, one obvious benefit to the mid-summer move from Laurel Park to Pimlico will be the ability to give Laurel's turf course a break during the hottest time of the year in Maryland. Pimlico last ran in the late summer back in 2005, when its calendar...

Running from Aug. 27 through Sept. 6, this year's seven days of racing held during the Maryland State Fair at Timonium will offer purses of over $287,000 daily, the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society announced Tuesday. The meet will feature the $125,000 Timonium Juvenile S. for 2-year-olds, going 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 29. A $40,000 trainers' bonus will be offered this year and grooms' awards to the best turned out in each race will also be awarded. Annual College Day at the Fair will take place Aug. 27, with...

The Maryland Jockey Club released the fall schedule of 33 stakes worth $3.525 million in purses for Laurel Park, including the GIII Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and 36th edition of the Jim McKay Maryland Million. The fall meet begins Thursday, Sept. 9 and continues through Saturday, Dec. 31. For the complete stakes schedule, click here. The six-furlong De Francis for 3-year-olds and up will help kick off the fall stakes schedule as one of four stakes worth $500,000 in purses Saturday, Sept. 18. Named for the late president...

A 15% across-the-board increase for overnight purses in Maryland has been instituted for the rest of 2021 after a Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) Board of Directors meeting June 29. The increase goes into effect at Pimlico July 2, the next date of live racing in the state. Overnight purse distribution levels will also be restored. First place will be 60% (an increase from 57%); second place is 20% (a decrease from 21%); third place is 10% (down from 11%); and fourth place will be 5% (down from 6%). Fifth...

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Maryland Jockey Club announced the addition of racing days over the next several months to make up for multiple cancellations in the winter and early spring because of weather conditions and equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) restrictions. MJC earlier announced that the Spring Stakes Spectacular program originally scheduled for Apr. 17 at Laurel Park has been moved to the following Apr. 24. Racing will be held April 17-19 instead of Apr. 15-18. Extra races listed for Thursday, Apr. 15, will move to Saturday, Apr. 17, while...

Laurel Park canceled racing for Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the Maryland Jockey Club was informed Thursday evening by Maryland State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Odian that a horse at Pimlico has tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The horse had been isolated for 72 hours prior to the positive test. In a statement issued by the Maryland Jockey Club Friday afternoon, the suspension of live racing at Laurel Park has now been extended through Apr. 4. The news would have impacted fields for the races which were already set...

Four barns at Laurel Park were placed under quarantine and shipping out was barred for horses stabled at Maryland's two Thoroughbred tracks Mar. 9 after a symptomatic horse at Laurel tested positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) and was removed to a veterinary facility. On a national scale, active cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease are being monitored in several states right now, including in Florida at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala. On Mar. 7, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture state veterinarian's office issued written guidance related...

Laurel Park was forced to push back its entire nine-race Winter Sprintfest card--including the GIII Runhappy Barbara Fritchie S. and GIII General George S.--one week from Saturday, Feb. 13 to Feb. 20 due to a winter storm. The card also includes four $100,000 listed stakes. Racing is scheduled to be held Sunday, Feb. 14 and on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 15.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) have released procedures for access to the backside at MJC facilities. The restrictions are designed to help keep the spread of COVID-19 in check and are effective immediately. For traveling between the Mid-Atlantic region of Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., horsemen are required to submit a weekly negative PCR test. When traveling from all other states, a five-day quarantine is required and a negative test must be submitted after the quarantine period. International travelers must...