Laurel Park fall meet gets underway on Sept. 5
Live racing returns to Laurel Park on Sept. 5. The 52-day fall meet features the 40th edition of the Jim McKay Maryland Million on Oct. 11, premium live events throughout the season, and a bettor-friendly 12% takeout on value Pick 5 wagers.
Live racing is conducted on a Friday through Sunday schedule with first post time at 12:10 pm EDT. The first post time on Maryland Million Saturday is 11:30 am EDT.
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Additionally, Laurel Park will run a special Thanksgiving Day program on Nov. 27. The first post time on Thanksgiving day is 11:25 am EDT. Laurel Park will again participate in the popular pie giveaway on Thanksgiving day.
Jim McKay Maryland Million Day is a one-day sire stakes program offering purses and awards of more than $1 million. It was created in 1986 by the renowned ABC Sports broadcaster and Marylander Jim McKay.
The race day focuses on Maryland-sired horses, giving breeders, owners, and trainers a day to showcase their homegrown talent. It quickly became one of the most anticipated events on the Maryland racing calendar.
Opening weekend features two $100,000 stakes races on Saturday as well as a special Labor Day barbecue.
Online and hybrid handicapping contests return to Laurel Park for the fall meet. The Charm City Challenge is a free online tournament where players make selections on the last five races of each Laurel Park card during this meet. Based on the popular pick-and-pray handicapping tournaments, the Charm City Challenge offers cash prizes to the contestant with the highest cumulative bankroll for the entire Laurel Park fall meet. In addition, any contestant who selects a cold Pick 5 sequence on a given day receives a cash bonus. Players must register by 11:00 am EDT on Sept. 11.
The Laurel Park autumn handicapping challenge is a one-day, on-site or online handicapping contest taking place at Laurel Park or through Xpressbet and TVG/4NJBETS only. The $500 contest, which includes a $250 entry fee and $250 bankroll, will take place Saturday, September 27. Based on 120 entries, the total prize pool is worth $25,000, including a full seat to the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, two National Handicapping Championship prize packs, and cash awards.
There are several super stakes days during the fall meet. Three $100,000 races on grass are the marquee events on Laurel Park’s fall turf festival on Sept. 13.
Juvenile turf performers strut their stuff in the $100,000 Laurel Futurity for colts and geldings, and the $100,000 Selima Stakes for fillies on Sept. 27. Among the past winners of the Laurel Futurity are legendary horses such as Count Fleet, Citation, Secretariat, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and Barbaro.
The fall meet runs through Dec. 28.