After several delays, live racing will return to Laurel Park on Saturday.
First race post time is 12:35 p.m. (EST) with the six-furlong, $50,000 What A
Summer S. for fillies and mares topping the nine-race program. Opening day will
also feature free admission, a free program and a souvenir keychain to the first
5,000 people in attendance.
The 62-day meet will continue through April 17 with Mondays and Tuesdays dark. There
will be a special Presidents Day card on February 21.
The track began a multi-million renovation last June that included the
widening of both racing surfaces. The main track, which has been raised and
increased in width from 75 to 95 feet, will now offer one-turn mile races. The
track’s composition of 89 percent sand and 11 percent silt and clay is identical
to the old Laurel dirt surface. The track has received favorable reviews.
“The track is great,” said Mario Pino, Maryland’s winningest rider. “It is
big and has a good bounce to it. It reminds me of Colonial Downs because of the
sweeping turns. It is a beautiful track and it is going to be exciting to get
back there because we haven’t been there in so long.”
The turf course was widened from 75 to 142 feet. Other improvements include a refurbished dining room, a new color infield
tote board and the Horse Wizard, 40 “slots-like” wagering devices designed to
introduce novices to pari-mutuel wagering on live horse races.
Unexpected problems with the track’s construction and weather-related delays
caused the track to abandon its traditional fall meet last October. The start of
the meet was rescheduled for November 4, then December 26, but opening day will
finally take place on Saturday.
The $200,000 Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) for fillies and mares on February 19,
and the $200,000 General George H. (G2) on February 21, highlight the stakes
schedule. Both will be decided at seven furlongs. The February 19 card also
features the $125,000 John B. Campbell Breeders’ Cup H. for three-year-olds and
up at nine furlongs.