Laurel Park unveils 2025 winter stakes schedule
Press Release- December 7, 2024
The new Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2025 winter-spring meet at Laurel Park, which will feature 25 stakes worth over $2.6 million in total purses.
The Laurel Park winter-spring meet will be the first presented by the new TMJC, a nonprofit entity under the auspices of the state’s Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA). The MTROA will take control of day-to-day racing in Maryland on January 1.
The new TMJC has increased the purse of both the Federico Tesio and Weber City Miss by $25,000. Those races will now be worth $150,000 each.
The Weber City Miss and Federico Tesio are “Win Today, See You in May” events on a special “Preakness Preview Day” program to be run on Saturday, April 19.
Any Triple Crown-nominated runner that wins The Federico Tesio will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 150th Preakness Stakes (G1), the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, to be run at Pimlico on May 17.
Deputed Testamony completed the Federico Tesio – Preakness Stakes double in 1983.
The winner of the Weber City Miss receives an automatic berth in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on May 16.
The stakes action begins on Saturday, January 18, a program headlined by the $100,000 Fire Plug for older sprinters at 6 ½-furlongs and the $100,000 What a Summer for older fillies and mares at six furlongs.
Two Grade 3, $200,000 races at seven furlongs highlight a four-stakes program on Saturday, February 15. The General George for 4-year-olds and upward was won last year by Maryland-bred Post Time, who went on to capture Aqueduct’s Grade 2 Carter Stakes as well as earn Grade 1-placings in the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar.
The Barbara Fritchie for older fillies and mares was first contested in 1952 and has been won by champions such as Xtra Heat, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015.
“We look forward to building a new era in Maryland racing,” said Bill Knauf, President and General Manager of TMJC. “The General George and Barbara Fritchie are historically important races, and our Preakness Preview Day will be a showcase event for 3-year-olds.”
Laurel Park’s stakes series for 3-year-old males offers sophomores a chance to gradually stretch out in distance. The $100,000 Spectacular Bid at seven furlongs on Saturday, January 25 is followed by the $100,000 Miracle Wood at a one-turn mile on Saturday, February 22.
The first two-turn race of the series is the $100,000 Private Terms at 1 1/16-miles on Saturday, March 22 followed by the Federico Tesio at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, April 19.
The Laurel winter meet will begin Friday, January 17 and conclude Sunday, March 30 with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday except for a one-week break March 14-16. First post time will be 12:25 p.m. ET
The spring meet at Laurel will run from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, May 4 with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday. There will be no racing on April 20 for the Easter Sunday holiday.
The full schedule is below.
Laurel Park winter stakes schedule
| Track | Run Date | Stakes Name | Purse | Grade/Restriction | Division | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Park | 18-Jan-2025 | Fire Plug | $100,000 | 4 and up | 6 1/2 furlongs | |
| Geisha | $75,000 | Md-bred/sired | 4 and up | 1 mile | ||
| Jennings | $75,000 | Md-bred/sired | F & M 4 and up | 1 mile | ||
| What A Summer | $100,000 | F & M 4 and up | 6 furlongs | |||
| 25-Jan-2025 | Spectacular Bid | $100,000 | 3 yo | 7 furlongs | ||
| Xtra Heat | $100,000 | 3 yo fillies | 6 furlongs | |||
| 15-Feb-2025 | Barbara Fritchie | $200,000 | G3 | F & M 4 and up | 7 furlongs | |
| General George | $200,000 | G3 | 4 and up | 7 furlongs | ||
| John B. Campbell | $100,000 | 4 and up | 1 1/8 miles | |||
| Nellie Morse | $100,000 | F & M 4 and up | 1 1/16 miles | |||
| 22-Feb-2025 | Miracle Wood | $100,000 | 3 yo | 1 mile | ||
| Wide Country | $100,000 | 3 yo fillies | 7 furlongs | |||
| 8-Mar-2025 | Conniver | $75,000 | Md-bred/sired | F & M 4 and up | 7 furlongs | |
| Not For Love | $75,000 | Md-bred/sired | 4 and up | 6 furlongs | ||
| 22-Mar-2025 | Beyond The Wire | $100,000 | 3yo fillies | 1 mile | ||
| Private Terms | $100,000 | 3 yo | 1 1/16 miles | |||
| 12-Apr-2025 | Frank V. Whiteley | $100,000 | 3yo and up | 7 furlongs | ||
| Heavenly Cause | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 mile | |||
| Native Dancer | $100,000 | 3yo and up | 1 1/8 miles | |||
| Primonetta | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 6 furlongs | |||
| 19-Apr-2025 | Dahlia | $100,000 | F & M 3 and up | 1 mile (turf) | ||
| Federico Tesio | $125,000 | 3yo | 1 1/8 miles | |||
| Henry S. Clark | $100,000 | 3yo and up | 1 mile (turf) | |||
| King T. Leatherbury | $100,000 | 3yo and up | 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | |||
| Weber City Miss | $125,000 | 3yo fillies | 1 1/16 miles |
CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO!
LATEST NEWS
