New Bonus Program Ready To Launch This Summer

Owners and developers of Maryland-bred horses are encouraged to plan now to take advantage of the $600,000 Owner & Developer Bonus Program, which will be available during the summer break in live racing at Laurel Park.

The current Laurel Park meet runs through Saturday, June 29. Bonus eligibility will begin Friday, July 4—which would have marked the next scheduled live racing day—and continue through Sunday, August 17.

This new initiative, jointly announced by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) and The Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) in April and approved by the Maryland Racing Commission, is designed to support the Maryland-bred program and maintain momentum during the summer hiatus.

The bonus program awards payments to the connections of Maryland-bred horses based on a points system tied to eligible performances at Colonial Downs and Delaware Park.

To qualify, Maryland-bred horses must finish 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in non-restricted overnight races—excluding stakes, certified, or state-bred restricted events—at either Colonial or Delaware. A total of $600,000 in bonus funds will be distributed proportionally based on points earned, with payouts split equally between the Owner(s) and the Developer(s). (The Developer is defined as the owner at the time of the horse’s first career start.)

Payments will be issued by the end of September 2025.

Bonuses will be awarded using a four-tiered points system, which reflects Maryland purse equivalents:

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Additionally, Starter Handicaps will receive points equivalent to two claiming levels higher than their listed level (e.g., a $5,000 Starter Handicap earns points equal to a $12,500 claimer).

Please note: No bonuses will be awarded for stakes races, state-bred restricted races, or certified races.

This new initiative complements the existing Owner & Developer Bonus Program, which continues to offer 30% purse bonuses (15% to the Owner and 15% to the Developer) for Maryland-breds finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in non-restricted overnight races at Laurel Park, Pimlico, and Timonium. In addition, the MD-Bred Race Fund will provide a separate $600,000 allocation to support breeder bonuses during this period.

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