The Maryland Racing Commission announced Tuesday that it will allow the
Maryland Jockey Club to alter its racing schedule for the final seven weeks of
the current Laurel winter meeting.
Live racing, which is currently being conducted on a Wednesday through
Saturday basis, will now be offered Thursdays through Sundays, beginning the
week of February 25. The 15-week stand will now end on Sunday, April 13, instead
of Saturday, April 12.
“We saw a decline in the on-track handle last year and it has continued
during the first four weeks of the new year so we decided to try something new,”
Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Chris Dragone said. “I
believe we can get more fans out to the track on a Sunday versus a work day.
That is the whole method behind the decision. The football season is wrapped up
and we think people might have more time to come out to the track.”
Dragone indicated live racing will not take place on Easter Sunday, March 23.
The date will be made up during the Pimlico spring meeting, which begins at the
Baltimore oval on Thursday, April 17.