At the starting gate. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Laurel Park begins its final week of live racing today, ending its winter meet Saturday with a day of giveaways, free live programs and admission, and the simulcast of the Dubai World Cup.
Laurel’s live program today will feature nine races highlighted by a $50,000 optional claimer at a mile. The six-horse field includes Maryland Million Turf Stakes winner Talk Show Man, 2013 Canonero II Stakes winner and multiple stakes-placed Cerro, and A.P. Cino, beaten a neck Feb. 14 in the John B. Campbell.
Laurel’s first race is 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, gates open at 9:45 a.m. for fans to watch and wager on the Dubai World Cup program, featuring Preakness winner California Chrome and dual Eclipse champion and Fair Hill resident Main Sequence. There will be free coffee and donuts from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at Tips. Laurel will provide free live programs and admission Saturday as well as drawings to win infield tickets to Black-Eyed Susan Day, the Preakness infield concerts and the Brew & Bourbon Classic.
Going into the last three days of the meet, Claudio Gonzalez has a six-win lead over Hugh McMahon for leading trainer while jockey Sheldon Russell is leading the jockey’s race with 38 wins, two more than Jevian Toledo.
“I’m not there yet,” said Gonzalez, a 38-year-old native of Chile. “It’s not easy to win. There’s so many good trainers. But I’m hoping we can do it.”
The Maryland Jockey Club resumes live racing Thursday, April 2 at Pimlico. The meet will be highlighted by the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes, May 16.
