LAUREL, MD. 11-22-11---Thanksgiving traditions: turkey dinner, NFL games and thoroughbred racing at Laurel Park. The central Maryland track offers a special 11:05 a.m. post time Thursday with a nine-race card. Headlining the day will be the 24th annual pie giveaway (pumpkin or apple) after the fifth race at both Laurel and its sister track, Pimlico Race Course. Free donuts with coffee or cider will also be available from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Laurel’s terrace dining room will feature a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving buffet for $23.

The holiday week continues Friday and Saturday afternoons with “Guys’ Weekend”.

Friday features free admission to Laurel Park’s live program for all men, half-priced draft beers and giveaways, including chances to win tickets to two Washington Capitals games, the Baltimore Ravens-Cleveland Browns contest on December 24 and the December 18 WWE card at 1st Mariner Arena.

Tickets to the 137th Preakness Stakes on May 19, 2012 take center stage in Saturday’s prize drawings. Two pairs of tickets for the Turfside Terrace, Clubhouse Turn and Top of the Stretch sections for the biggest single-day sporting event in the state of Maryland will be up for grabs.

First post for Friday and Saturday is 12:35 p.m.