What's Happening Across Maryland Racing

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) is pleased to announce plans to restart its highly successful Mobile Dentist program this spring, bringing essential dental care directly back to the Maryland horsemen’s community at Laurel Park.

In the wake of Churchill Downs Incorporated’s (CDI) announcement that it has reached an agreement in principal to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes from 1/ST RACING for a reported $85 million, CEO Bill Carstanjen met with the MTHA Board of Directors to discuss the transaction and answer questions regarding its impact on Maryland racing.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) is pleased to highlight the Laurel Multiservice Center as an increasingly important resource for horsemen and backstretch workers at Laurel Park.

As part of ongoing efforts to improve communication and coordination across Maryland racing, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association continues to utilize WhatsApp groups as a real-time communication tool for horsemen and industry participants.

The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) will open its 2026 season in Maryland with a Kentucky Derby weekend event at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 2, hosted by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The 2026 Timonium meet will consist of seven days of live racing during the Maryland State Fair, following a one-year operating agreement between the non-profit Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland State Fair Board of Directors. Under the agreement, The Maryland Jockey Club will provide the necessary staffing and operational support to ensure the meet can be conducted.

The Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation, created in 1947, continues with its mission of providing financial assistance for extraordinary circumstances to eligible employees who actively work at Maryland racetracks and Thoroughbred farms.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) and The Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) have announced the return of the Maryland-Bred Owner & Developer Bonus Program for summer 2026, continuing a successful initiative that supports Maryland-bred horses during the state’s annual live racing break.