The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. A Grade III event open to horses three-years-old and up, it is contested on dirt over a distance of six furlongs.
The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap was born in 1987 and its inaugural run was held at Laurel Park Racecourse at seven furlongs. Since its second running, the race has been run on the Preakness Stakes undercard at six furlongs. The race has been run with several variations of name changes beginning as the Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap from 1987-1995. From 1996-2005 the race was called the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap and in 2005 and 2006 it was called the Emeriates Airline Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap was made American graded stakes race, earning grade 3 status beginning in 1994.
| Stakes Race | Grade | Purse |
|---|---|---|
| Black-Eyed Susan Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| Pimlico Special | III | $300,000 |
| Preakness Stakes | I | $1,000,000 |
| Dixie Stakes | II | $300,000 |
| Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes | III | $100,000 |
| Gallorette Handicap | III | $150,000 |
| Maryland Sprint Handicap | III | $100,000 |
