Racing News

Benny Havens Gives Trainer Aguirre Jr. First Career Win

09/06/2019

American Giant Comes Up Big in Opening Day Feature
Crackin’ Crab Feast Complements Live Racing Saturday

LAUREL, MD – Benny Havens got Laurel Park’s fall meet off to a rousing start, swinging to the lead on the far turn and fending off Mister Frank’s Way the length of the stretch to give trainer Anthony Aguirre Jr. his first career win in the first race on Friday’s opening day program.

Fasig-Tipton Named Title Sponsor of Laurel Futurity

09/06/2019

93rd running of Futurity to be run Saturday, Sept. 21 at Laurel Park
Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall Yearling Sale to be Held Sept. 30 to Oct. 1

LAUREL, MD – Laurel Park announced today that Fasig-Tipton will be the title sponsor for the $200,000 Laurel Futurity.

Abiding Star May Get Chance to Shine in BWI Turf Cup Sept. 21

09/05/2019

Impressive Maiden Winner Me and Mr. C Possible for Laurel Futurity
Clubman on Track for Third Straight Trip to Maryland Million Classic
Maryland Million Nursery Under Consideration for D C Fireman
September to Remember Stakes Festival I Nominations Close Sept. 12
Link: Stronach 5 All Star Ticket

The Stronach 5 Returns

09/05/2019

Races from Laurel, Gulfstream and Golden Gate
Four on the Turf, $100,000 Guaranteed Pool

LAUREL, MD – The Stronach 5, featuring a $100,000 guaranteed pool and industry-low 12-percent takeout, returns Friday with races from Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park and Golden Gate Fields.

The sequence kicks off at 5:12 p.m. with a field of 10 Maryland-bred or Maryland-sired allowance runners going six furlongs at Laurel. The remaining four races of the Stronach 5 are all scheduled on the turf.

Fall Meet Opens as Live Racing Returns to Laurel Park

09/04/2019

40 Stakes Worth $4.27 Million Part of Calendar Year-Ending Stand
September to Remember Features 14 Stakes Worth $1.8 Million
Six of Nine Races Carded on World-Class Turf Course Friday, Sept. 6
G3 De Francis Dash, G3 BWI Turf Cup Highlight Sept. 21 Card
Super Saturdays, Maryland Million, Clubhouse Fest Among Meet Highlights

Preakness Trio to Line Up Again in G1 Travers at Saratoga

08/23/2019

Everfast, Owendale, Laughing Fox Among Field of 12 Saturday

BALTIMORE – For the first time since they met in the 144th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, three of the top five finishers in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown will line up again in Saturday’s $1.25 million Travers (G1) at Saratoga.

Calumet Farm’s Everfast, Rupp Racing’s Owendale and Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Laughing Fox are among the field of 12 set to assemble for the 150th Travers.

Apprentice Correa Wins Four Sunday to Capture Riding Title

08/18/2019

Becomes First Apprentice in Six Years to Wear Crown
Trio of Mandatory Payouts on Closing Day Sunday

LAUREL, MD – Apprentice Julio Correa won four times on Sunday’s closing day program to defeat Trevor McCarthy and clinch his first career riding title in style at Laurel Park.

Henry Villari Captures MJC Champions Handicapping Tournament

08/18/2019

Earns $2,310 in Prize Money and Berth in Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge

LAUREL, MD – Henry Villari of Port Republic, Md. finished with a bankroll balance of $3,007 to capture the fall session of the Maryland Jockey Club Champions Handicapping Tournament held on Maryland Pride Day, Saturday, Aug. 17 at Laurel Park.

Trainer Gonzalez Back on Top at Laurel Summer Meet

08/17/2019

Summer Meet Closes Sunday with Mandatory Payouts
Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Recognizes Newest Members

LAUREL, MD – After having his streak snapped at six consecutive Laurel Park titles in the spring, Claudio Gonzalez will finish the 43-day summer stand back atop the trainer standings.

Gonzalez, 42, enters Sunday’s closing day program with a 22-14 advantage over runner-up Mike Trombetta. It will be the 10th career title for Gonzalez, Maryland’s overall leading trainer in 2017 and 2018.

Jockey Pimentel Caps Four-Win Day in $75,000 Miss Disco

08/17/2019

Where Paradise Lay Takes Stakes Debut in $75,000 Star de Naskra

LAUREL, MD – Jockey Julian Pimentel put an exclamation point on his four-win afternoon by guiding favored Introduced to a half-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Miss Disco Stakes at Laurel Park.

The Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies and $75,000 Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds, both six-furlong sprints on the main track, were among four stakes for Maryland-bred/sired horses worth $300,000 in purses on a 12-race Maryland Pride Day program.