from a Maryland Jockey Club press release

The Maryland Jockey Club unveiled the 2013 Laurel Park fall schedule yesterday after reaching agreement with both the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Maryland Horse Breeders Association. The schedule was approved by the Maryland Racing Commission at its monthly meeting.

The key difference this year, versus prior years, is that the Laurel stakes schedule will focus on six big days, beginning with the opening weekend.

After a 14-week break, which will include ten live days of racing at Timonium during the State Fair in late August and early September, live racing will resume at the major tracks after Labor Day. Racing will take place four days a week through the end of the year on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule, holidays excluded.

The 59-day fall meeting, which begins September 19 and concludes December 31, includes 31 stakes races, worth more than $3.3 million.

Headlining the stand will be the 28th running of the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions on Saturday, Oct. 19 and the Fall Festival of Racing on Saturday, Sept. 21. That card will feature five stakes races on the turf as well as the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and the Jameela Stakes for Maryland-breds.

“All of the stakes races will occur on six Saturday afternoons, which we feel will help our profile on the simulcast signal,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas.  “Kicking off the meet on opening weekend with five turf stakes and the De Francis Dash will get us off to a great start.”

The stakes races will take place on September 21 (seven stakes), October 19 (nine), November 9 (four), November 16 (four), December 7 (four) and December 28 (three).

Maryland Million officials have eliminated two stakes races from the program (Turf Sprint and Oaks) but will still run 11 races on the card, replacing those with a pair of $50,000 maiden races on the turf. In addition, the purses of the Turf and Ladies have been increased from $100,000 to $125,000.

Laurel Park Fall Stakes:

DateStakesConditionsDistancePurse
21-SepFrank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash3 & UP6 furlongs350,000
21-SepLaurel Futurity2 YO5.5 furlongs (T)100,000
21-SepSelima2 YO fillies5.5 furlongs (T)100,000
21-SepLaurel Dash3 & UP6 furlongs (T)100,000
21-SepLaurel Turf Cup3 & UP1 1/2 mile (T)100,000
21-SepLady BaltimoreF & M 3 & UP1 1/16 mile (T)100,000
21-SepJameelaF & M 3 & UP (MD-bred and/or MD-sired)6 furlongs (T)100,000
19-OctMd. Million Classic3 & UP (MD-sired)1 1/8 mile150,000
19-OctMd. Million Turf3 & UP (MD-sired)1 1/8 mile (T)125,000
19-OctMd. Million LadiesF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)1 1/8 mile (T)125,000
19-OctMd. Million Sprint3 & UP (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
19-OctMd. Million DistaffF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)7 furlongs100,000
19-OctMd. Million Nursery2 YO (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
19-OctMd. Million Lassie2 YO fillies (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
19-OctMd. Million Starter Handicap3 & UP (MD-sired)1 mile50,000
19-OctMd. Million Distaff Starter HandicapF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)1 mile50,000
9-NovCity of Laurel3 YO7 furlongs100,000
9-NovSafely Kept3 YO fillies7 furlongs100,000
9-NovJapan Racing Association3 & UP1 1/16 mile (T)100,000
9-NovGeishaF & M 3 & UP (MD-bred and/or MD-sired)1 mile100,000
16-NovJennings Handicap3 & UP (MD-bred and/or MD-sired)1 mile100,000
16-NovDave’s Friend3 & UP6 furlongs100,000
16-NovJames Lewis2 YO6 furlongs100,000
16-NovSmart Halo2 YO fillies6 furlongs100,000
7-DecBroad Brush3 & UP1 1/8 mile100,000
7-DecThirty Eight Go GoF & M 3 & UP1 mile100,000
7-DecThe Marylander2 YO7 furlongs100,000
7-DecGin Talking2 YO fillies7 furlongs100,000
28-DecMd. Juvenile Championship2 YO  (MD-bred and/or MD-sired)7 furlongs100,000
28-DecMd. Juvenile Filly Championship2 YO fillies (MD-bred and/or MD-sired)7 furlongs100,000
28-DecWilla On The MoveF & M 3 & UP6 furlongs100,000