Nine on Tap as Live Racing Returns to Laurel Park Friday
Nominations Close Saturday for Winter Carnival Stakes Feb. 18

LAUREL, MD – Submissions are now being accepted for The Art of Racing, a partnership between 1/ST Racing, the Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland Institute College of Art seeking original, two-dimensional visual art that depicts the unique elements of Thoroughbred racing and the Preakness Stakes (G1).

The nationwide contest attracted 147 entries for its debut last year, when it was won by MICA student Theresia Zhang for her illustration titled “Speed.”

Submissions will remain open until 11:59 p.m. March 10. Public voting runs March 13-27, with the top 10 vote-getters entered into a final round judged by esteemed members of the arts community March 28-31. The winner will be announced April 5.

The winning artist will receive $4,000 and two VIP Turfside Terrace tickets for the 148th Preakness Stakes, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday, May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course, as well as have their artwork reproduced on various merchandise.

The Preakness and MICA have an illustrious history dating back to the 1970s, when then-MICA professor Raoul Middleman led his classes in painting murals of Pimlico Race Course. The seven murals created continue to hang in the grandstand.

For contest rules, to submit artwork or for more information, click here.

Media inquiries can be made by contacting Carson Rehfeld at 443-641-3371 or carson@profilespr.com

Nine on Tap as Live Racing Returns to Laurel Park Friday

A one-mile allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 4 and older led by 6-5 program favorite Mit Mazel serves as Friday’s feature as live racing returns to Laurel Park to open the second month of the winter meet.

Robert D. Bone’s Mit Mazel is a seven-time career winner that has already run twice in 2023, winning a one-mile optional claimer by 5 ½ lengths in front-running fashion Jan. 1 and returning to be second in a restricted allowance going 1 1/16 miles Jan. 23. Apprentice Jeiron Barbosa rides for the eighth straight time from Post 5 in a field of six.

SAB Stable Inc.’s She Is Wisky, runner-up in the Wide Country last February at Laurel, is second choice on the morning line at 3-1. The 4-year-old daughter of Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Lea will be racing second time off the claim for trainer Brittany Russell, having finished fourth as the favorite following an inside trip in the Jan. 23 allowance, five lengths behind Mit Mazel.

Barbosa, a finalist for the 2022 Eclipse Award as champion apprentice won by Jose Gomez, continues to lead the winter meet with 20 wins and $768,070 in purse earnings. Jaime Rodriguez (15), Jevian Toledo (13) and Angel Cruz (12) are all in double-figures in wins.

Russell is tops in the trainer standings with 12 wins and $511,905 in purses earned from 47 starters. Jamie Ness ranks second with eight wins and $303,128 in purses.

Saturday’s nine-race program includes three consecutive optional claiming allowances for older horses. Race 6 at about 1 1/16 miles attracted an overflow field of 12 including 2021 De Francis Dash (G3) winner Jalen Journey; Race 7 is a 5 ½-furlong sprint featuring War Tocsin, whose three graded-stakes placings include a second in the General George (G3) and third in the Maryland Sprint (G3) last year; and Race 8 for fillies and mares, also at 5 ½ furlongs, features the return of eight-time stakes winner Street Lute, unraced since last July.

Nominations Close Saturday for Winter Carnival Stakes Feb. 18

Nominations close Saturday for the six stakes worth $900,000 in purses on the Feb. 18 Winter Carnival program, led by the $250,000 General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up and $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3) for fillies and mares 4 and older, each sprinting seven furlongs.

Also on the Feb. 18 card are the $100,000 Miracle Wood going one mile and $100,000 Wide Country sprinting seven furlongs. The Miracle Wood is Maryland’s next stop for sophomores on the road to the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course, while the Wide Country is on the trail to the 99th Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19.

Rounding out the stakes action will be the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-year-olds and up and $100,000 Nellie Morse for fillies and mares 4 and older, both going about 1 1/16 miles.

To make a nomination email stakes coordinator Eleanor Albert at Eleanor.albert@marylandracing.com or call 800-638-1859.