Fall Festival of Racing an Exciting Time for Laurel Park and Bettors
LAUREL, MD - Saturday’s Fall Festival of Racing, featuring the $250,000 De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) and six other stakes, is just the start of what will be a thrilling several months of racing in Maryland.
“This is an exciting time in Maryland racing,” said Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra. “Bettors have been pleased with the renovations to our building and horsemen throughout the Northeast have supported our racing program and welcomed the new barns and renovations to the backside. Our turf course, one of the finest in the world, continues to draw full and quality fields.
“We welcome the opportunity these next few months to show off our building and our racing and stakes program.”
On Saturday, Sept. 30, newly-renovated Laurel Park will play host to eight stakes races on the turf, including three graded – the $200,000 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G2), $200,000 Commonwealth Derby (G3) and $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks (G3). Three weeks later Laurel will once again be home of the popular Jim McKay Maryland Million.
Laurel will host Maryland’s biggest Breeders’ Cup party Nov. 3-4 and will follow that up Saturday, Nov. 11 with a race program highlighted by six stakes - including the $100,000 Safely Kept and $100,000 City of Laurel – as well as a tribute to late Mid-Atlantic legend Ben’s Cat.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Brew and Bourbon Classic returns to Laurel for a fun-filled day of beer tasting, bourbon sipping and Thoroughbred racing.
