Timonium Fair Racing Gets Underway Friday

The second season of horse racing in Maryland gets underway Friday with nine races at the Maryland State Fair,  the only fair east of the Mississippi that still conducts a sanctioned Thoroughbred meeting.

The meet covers seven days and will be contested over successive weekends, ending on Labor Day, Monday September 1. Laurel Park’s fall meeting starts on Friday September 5.

“We’re happy to get back to business after the summer break,” said racing secretary Georganne Hale. “I’m especially pleased with the initial support from horsemen throughout the region.”

Last year J.D. Acosta accepted sixty mounts at the fair and led all riders with sixteen wins. He has six mounts on Friday. Trainer Hugh McMahon sent out nineteen starters in 2013 and won with nine.  Sniper, who breaks from the rail in Friday’s allowance feature, is his only starter on opening day.

Timonium will again offer a $10,000 trainers bonus, awarded to the top four conditioners with the most wins and the most starts.

The Maryland State Fair remains a family friendly introduction to Thoroughbreds and horse racing in Baltimore County, with the allure of funnel cakes, thrill rides and games of chance on the midway and at the racetrack. Admission to the races is included with admission to the fair.

First post daily is 1 p.m. The Timonium fair grounds is located one mile north of Baltimore’s Interstate 695 and east of Interstate 81, exiting at Padonia Road.