Racing News

Thanksgiving Day Kicks Off Busy Weekend at Laurel Park

Nine Live Races Thursday, Early Post & Holiday Pie Giveaway
Five Stakes Worth $450,000 in Purses Over Friday and Saturday

BALTIMORE – The Maryland Jockey Club will serve up nine live races, a special holiday buffet and the eagerly awaited pie giveaway on its traditional Thanksgiving Day program Thursday at Laurel Park.

Joe Makes Return on Dirt in $75,000 Bender Memorial

Intrepid Daydream Takes Win Streak into $75,000 Politely

BALTIMORE – The Elkstone Group’s two-time Maryland champion homebred Joe, a stakes winner on both turf and dirt, shortens up and switches back to the main track for his return to the races in the $75,000 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Friday, Nov. 24 at Laurel Park.

Laurel Winter Schedule Includes 17 Stakes Worth $1.8 Million

General George, Barbara Fritchie Headline Feb. 17 Winter Carnival
Maryland Juvenile Stakes Dec. 2 Attract 48 Nominations

BALTIMORE – Highlighted by a Winter Carnival program featuring the Barbara Fritchie (G3) and General George (G3) for older sprinters, as well as the start of Maryland’s series for 3-year-olds leading up to the 149th Preakness Stakes (G1), Laurel Park will offer 17 stakes worth $1.8 million in purses during its 2024 winter meet.

Discreet Ops Stands Out in Impressive Debut Triumph Thursday

2YO Army Mule Filly Rolls in Six-Furlong Maiden Special Weight
Trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon Registers Thursday Hat Trick

BALTIMORE – Charles J. ‘Chip’ Reed’s Discreet Ops, from the second crop of undefeated Grade 1 winner Army Mule, got the eighth weekend of Laurel Park’s fall meet off to a thrilling start with an eye-catching 7 ¾-length debut victory Thursday.

Jockey Larry Reynolds’ Comeback Tour Continues at Laurel

53YO Journeyman, Back from 10-Year Absence, in Thursday Opener

BALTIMORE – Journeyman Larry Reynolds, a winner of nearly 3,400 career races who returned from a 10-year absence in mid-September, will continue his comeback tour Thursday at Laurel Park.

Reynolds, 53, is named to ride Champagne Please for trainer Anthony Farrior in the opener, a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs on the main track. Post time for the first of nine races is 12:25 p.m.

Thanksgiving Weekend Stakes Draw 120 Nominations

Bender Memorial, Politely for MD-Breds Friday, Nov. 24
City of Laurel, Safely Kept, Richard Small Saturday, Nov. 25

BALTIMORE – Built Wright Stables’ Grade 3-winning stablemates Double Crown and Eastern Bay and fellow multiple stakes winners Coffeewithchris, Joe and Witty are among 23 horses nominated to the $75,000 Howard and Sondra Bender Memorial Friday, Nov. 24 at Laurel Park.

Copper Tax Shines in $100,000 James F. Lewis III Win

Cap Classic Keeps Stays Unbeaten in $100,000 Smart Halo
Hybrid Eclipse Defends Title in $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go

BALTIMORE – Rose Petal Stable’s Copper Tax overcame a poor break to split horses in mid-stretch and catch Inveigled approaching the wire, extending his win streak to five races with a last-to-first neck triumph in Saturday’s $100,000 James F. Lewis III at Laurel Park.

Cap Classique Tests Perfect Record in $100,000 Smart Halo

Hybrid Eclipse Attempting Title Defense in Thirty Eight Go Go
Promising 2YO Filly Binnie, Full to Crabcakes, Stays in Family
Jockey Jevian Toledo Registers Friday Hat Trick

BALTIMORE – DARRS Inc.’s Cap Classique, undefeated through two starts, will stay sprinting in an attempt to keep her perfect record intact in Saturday’s $100,000 Smart Halo at Laurel Park.

Laurel Park Next Stop for Well-Traveled Sweet Willemina

6YO Mare Among Field of 10 for Saturday’s Thirty Eight Go Go
Jackpot Super High Five, Rainbow 6 Carryovers for Friday

BALTIMORE – When asked to expound on his indefatigable mare, Sweet Willemina, trainer Scott Lake doesn’t have to think long.

Allowance Features Highlight Thursday Program at Laurel

Fall Meet Resumes with Eight Race Card Starting at 12:25 P.M.
Nominations for Thanksgiving Weekend Stakes Due Friday, Saturday

BALTIMORE – Laurel Park’s fall meet resumes Thursday with an eight-race program featuring a pair of allowances for Maryland-bred/sired horses, one each on the turf and dirt, and a total of four races scheduled for the grass.

Post time is 12:25 p.m.