First Responders Day, Two Stakes Highlight Opening Week of 49-day Fall Meet
LAUREL, MD—Live racing returns to Laurel Park on Friday, September 11, marking the opening day of the 2026 Fall Meet.
The 49-day meet runs Friday through Sunday, concluding on December 27. Gates open at 11 am ET, with first post at 12 pm ET.
Laurel Park will close on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day, but will race on Thursday, November 26. The first post time for the special Thanksgiving Day program is 11:25 am ET.
Laurel Park is honored to host a special First Responders Day on Saturday, September 12, to mark the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a meaningful afternoon of remembrance, gratitude, and community. Together, we will honor the lives lost, recognize the courage and sacrifice of first responders, and thank the local heroes who continue to serve our communities every day.
Guests will receive a commemorative pin while supplies last. A special tribute to first responders will be held in the winner’s circle at approximately 2 pm ET.
Several Laurel Park employees were directly affected by the events of September 11, 2001, including Jeffrey Kreimer, the Director of Health and Safety for the Maryland Jockey Club.
As I reflect on September 11th, I remember the beautiful, sunny, clear day with a few high clouds and blue skies. I remember exactly what I was doing. Like my parents remembered President Kennedy’s assassination, and my grandparents remembered Pearl Harbor. I was due to work the night shift at the fire station near the US Social Security headquarters and the US Healthcare and Finance in Woodlawn, MD.
I was working with my father at his construction company for a few hours. I was listening to the radio when I heard breaking news that a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Center towers. I wondered how a plane could hit the tower on such a beautiful day. I thought it was a small plane on a tourist flight over the city.
When I heard it struck around the 80th floor, my thoughts turned to the FDNY firefighters who had to work their butts off to get the equipment up that high and to evacuate the walking and the injured, not knowing this would be their last rescue. I kept listening to the radio.
Then, the news reporter, with obvious stress in his voice, announced that a second plane hit the second tower. I stopped working and knew the world had changed forever.
We all stopped working. My phone blew up with calls from my coworkers, and we reported to work early. The towers fell, and I could not imagine the human loss.
We rode the train to attend several funerals of FDNY brothers at St Patrick’s Cathedral and visited “the pile”. While going to attend one funeral, we visited the site, and they found a “brother,” and the work stopped. We stood at attention while they took the remains, covered in a flag, to an FDNY ambulance. This memory, I will never forget.
I remember President Bush’s speech on the pile, and I felt proud to be an American. I honor those who “gave all” to protect our freedom and way of life and to keep this from occurring again.
Following the 9/11 winner’s circle presentation, Laurel Park hosts two $100,000 stakes races as part of Saturday’s nine-race program. The Sensible Lady Turf Dash drew an overflow field of 15 fillies and mares, while the Laurel Dash attracted twelve entrants, including two on the Also Eligible list. Both stakes races are run six furlongs on the Fort Marcy turf course.
Featured events during the fall meet include:
Family Day (Sunday, September 20)
Autumn Handicapping Challenge (Saturday, September 26)
Craft Beer Festival (Saturday, September 26)
Oyster Fest (Saturday, October 3)
Cigars and Bourbon On The Rail (Saturday, October 17)
Jim McKay Maryland Million (Saturday, October 24; special first post time is 11:15 am ET).
Maryland Million Handicapping Challenge (Saturday, October 24)
Breeders’ Cup Watch Party (Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31)
Veterans Day at Laurel Park (Saturday, November 7)
Hat Giveaway (Saturday, November 21)
Thanksgiving Pie Giveaway (Thursday, November 26)
TMJC/MTHA Toy Drive and Calendar Giveaway (Saturday, December 5)
Breakfast With Santa (Saturday, December 12)
Laurel Park also hosts Bubbly Brunch Sundays each week throughout the Fall Meet.
For more information about Laurel Park events, please visit here.
For Laurel Park’s stakes schedule, please visit here.