What's Happening Across Maryland Racing

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is pleased to announce that its 2025 Christmas Party and Toy Drive will once again be held at The Corner Stable restaurant, located in the Kings Contrivance Village Center in Columbia, Md. The event will take place Tuesday, December 16, from 6 to 10 p.m.

Trainers at Laurel Park are encouraged to submit nominations for the MTHA Backstretch Employee of the Year for 2025.

The traditional free Thanksgiving dinner sponsored by Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association returns on Thursday, Nov. 26, in the track kitchen at Laurel Park.

This year’s Toy Drive giveaway will be held Saturday, Dec. 20, in the Laurel Park Track Kitchen. The event will begin at 11 a.m.

The email system for reporting backstretch and track surface concerns by Maryland horsemen has drastically improved response time by Maryland Jockey Club to address concerns at Laurel Park and Pimlico.

Contributions to accounts in the Maryland Backstretch Pension Plan were released on October 21 for the most recent cycle.

Fair Hill, which hosted its first race meet in six years on August 30, plans to seek additional racing dates for 2026 and beyond, according to an update at the October Maryland Racing Commission meeting.

At its September open meeting, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) Board of Directors reviewed the highly successful results of the $600,000 Owner and Developer Bonus Program and the dual-state bred stakes schedule offered this summer to Maryland-based connections during the Laurel Park racing break.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) Board of Directors voted unanimously in September to increase purse allocations for finishers from sixth place through last in overnight races.