MRC approves 56-day fall meet for Laurel Park

The Maryland Racing Commission Aug. 15 approved a request from the Maryland Jockey Club for 56 days of live racing during the 2024 Laurel Park fall meet.

The meet begins Saturday, Sept. 7, and concludes Sunday, Dec. 29. For the most part racing will be held three days a week (Friday through Sunday) in September, November and December, and four days a week (Thursday through Sunday) in October.

There will be a four-day race week from Thursday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 1, to accommodate a live program on Thanksgiving Day as usual. Regular first post time will be 12:25 p.m. with several exceptions: Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11:30 a.m. (Maryland Million); Saturday, Nov. 2, at 12 p.m. (Breeders’ Cup); and Thursday, Nov. 28, at 11:25 p.m. (Thanksgiving).

In a letter to the MRC, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association noted that its Board of Directors approved the live racing schedule for the fall meet “pending future financial analysis that may require modifications.”

This will be the final Laurel meet operated by 1/ST Racing (The Stronach Group), which as of Jan. 1, 2025 will turn operations over to a not-for-profit entity under the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority.

In other business, the MRC approved the appointment of MTHA President Katy Voss as the MTHA representative on the Maryland Bred Fund Advisory Committee.

MJC Acting President Mike Rogers provided a brief update to the commission that included a reminder that Pimlico Race Course will cease training and simulcast operations Sept. 1 as was earlier announced. As of Aug. 15, Rogers said there were still about 90 horses at Pimlico that will transition to Laurel; others began moving to Laurel beginning in late July.

‍