LAUREL, MD. 09-03-14---Live racing returns to the major Maryland tracks for the first-time since early June as the 65-day Laurel Park fall meeting begins Friday afternoon, Sept. 5. Opening day features free admission, complimentary programs and drawings for tickets to the Brew & Bourbon (Sept. 13) and Oktoberfest (Oct. 25) events. First post is 1:10 Eastern.

The nine-race card features four $42,000 allowance races on the turf course. A fifth grass race of the day is headlined by Drunken Love, who looks to go six-for-six on the Laurel Park turf in the finale. The 9 year-old gelding has hit the board in all nine starts this year and 14 straight dating back to June 2013. Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Keith Feustle has made the son of Whiskey Wisdom a prohibitive 4-5 favorite in the starter allowance test.

“He is just an old class horse who always shows up and always has a chance to win,” trainer Jamie Ness said. “It has been a long time since he missed the board. He is an awesome horse to have in the barn. He is ready to run a good race.”

Headlining the stand will be the 29th running of the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions on October 18 and the Fall Festival of Racing on Saturday, November 15 with six stakes races topped by the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.

Saturday afternoon’s card will feature four $100,000 stakes races: the Dave’s Friend Stakes, the Japan Racing Association Stakes, the Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes and the All Brandy Stakes. Entries will be taken by the racing office Wednesday afternoon.

Fall Promotions:

Sept. 13---Brew and Bourbon Classic
Sept. 20---Racing 101
Sept. 27---Champions Handicapping Tournament
Oct. 4-5---RRP Thoroughbred Makeover at Pimlico
Oct. 11-12---The Big One Handicapping Tournament
Oct. 12---Maryland Million 5K Race
Oct. 18---Maryland Million Day
Oct. 25---Oktoberfest
Oct. 31-Nov. 1---Breeders’ Cup Weekend
Nov. 8---Salute The Troops Day
Nov. 15---Fall Festival of Racing featuring Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash
Nov. 27---Thanksgiving Day Buffet with complimentary coffee & donut
Nov. 28---Guys Day Out
Dec. 6---Giving Tree Holiday Celebration and Maryland Racing Calendar Giveaway

Live Racing Days:

•  September 5-6
•  September 10-11-12-13
•  September 17-18-19-20
•  September 24-25-26-27
•   October 1-2-3-4
•  October 8-9-10-11
•  October 13-16-17-18
•  October 22-23-24-25
•  October 29-30-31-November 1
•  November 5-6-7-8
•  November 12-13-14-15
•  November 19-20-21-22
•  November 26-27-28-29
•  December 3-4-5-6
•  December 10-11-12-13
•  December 17-18-19-20
•  December 26-27
•  December 31

About Laurel Park
Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.