Grass Races Scheduled Friday & Saturday Moved to Main Track

LAUREL, MD – With the Preakness Meet at historic Pimlico Race Course stretched into

August amid ongoing renovations of the main track at Laurel Park, turf racing has been put on hold for the upcoming weekend to ready the grass course for its extended use.

Four turf races scheduled for Friday and another two for Saturday will be moved to Pimlico’s main track. There is no grass racing on Sunday’s seven-race program that features the return of 2020 Pimlico Special (G3) winner Harpers First Ride.

“As a result of our extended race meet at Pimlico, we will pause all turf racing this coming weekend so that we may execute an enhanced maintenance program that will allow us to sustain turf racing through August,” the Maryland Jockey Club said in a Friday statement to horsemen.

The Preakness Meet opened two weeks early on April 22 and was originally scheduled to have its closing day May 31 but will now run through Aug. 22. Following the Maryland State Fair Meet at Timonium, which ends on Labor Day, Sept. 6, live racing is expected to return to Laurel Park for a calendar year-ending fall meet Sept. 9.