From a Maryland Jockey Club release

The Maryland Jockey Club unveiled the 2014 Laurel Park fall schedule today after reaching agreement with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The schedule was approved at the Maryland Racing Commission earlier this afternoon during its monthly meeting.

There will be further Maryland-bred stakes added to the schedule before the 65-day fall meeting begins September 5.  The stand will include 26 stakes worth a combined $2.85 million.

Headlining the stand will be the 29th running of the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions on Saturday, Oct. 18, the Fall Festival of Racing on Saturday, Nov. 15 with six stakes races topped by the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and five open $100,000 turf stakes races on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Notably, the Broad Brush Stakes — a nine-furlong test for three-year-olds and up — has been renamed for the great horse’s late trainer, who passed away in April.  The Richard Small Stakes will take place on November 15, as part of the undercard to the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.  The latter race has been moved once again to a post-Breeders’ Cup spot.

The track will once again group its stakes into “big” days.  Opening weekend will feature three Saturday stakes, and three other Saturdays during the stand feature multiple open stakes.  In addition, Maryland-bred stakes will fill out the schedule.

After a 12-week break, which includes seven live days of racing at Timonium during the State Fair, 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.

LAUREL FALL STAKES SCHEDULE

DateStakesConditionsDistancePurse
6-SepThirty Eight Go GoF & M 3 & UP1 mile100,000
6-SepDave’s Friend3 & UP6 furlongs100,000
6-SepJapan Racing Association3 & UP1 1/16 mile (T)100,000
27-SepLaurel Dash3 & UP6 furlongs (T)100,000
27-SepLaurel Turf Cup3 & UP1 1/2 mile (T)100,000
27-SepLaurel Futurity2 YO5.5 furlongs (T)100,000
27-SepSelima2 YO fillies5.5 furlongs (T)100,000
27-SepLady BaltimoreF & M 3 & UP1 1/16 mile (T)100,000
18-OctMd. Million Classic3 & UP (MD-sired)1 1/8 mile150,000
18-OctMd. Million Turf3 & UP (MD-sired)1 mile (T)125,000
18-OctMd. Million LadiesF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)1 1/8 mile (T)125,000
18-OctMd. Million Sprint3 & UP (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
18-OctMd. Million DistaffF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)7 furlongs100,000
18-OctMd. Million Nursery2 YO (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
18-OctMd. Million Lassie2 YO fillies (MD-sired)6 furlongs100,000
18-OctMd. Million Starter Handicap3 & UP (MD-sired)1 mile50,000
18-OctMd. Million Distaff Starter HandicapF & M 3 & UP (MD-sired)1 mile50,000
15-NovFrank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash3 & UP6 furlongs350,000
15-NovRichard Small3 & UP1 1/8 mile100,000
15-NovCity of Laurel3 YO7 furlongs100,000
15-NovSafely Kept3 YO fillies7 furlongs100,000
15-NovJames Lewis2 YO6 furlongs100,000
15-NovSmart Halo2 YO fillies6 furlongs100,000
6-DecThe Marylander2 YO7 furlongs100,000
6-DecGin Talking2 YO fillies7 furlongs100,000
6-DecWilla On The MoveF & M 3 & UP6 furlongs100,000

(Featured image, of 2013 Maryland Million Classic winner Eighttofasttocatch, by Laurie Asseo.)