Weekend Marks Return of Turf Racing at Laurel Park
Weekend Marks Return of Turf Racing at Laurel Park
82 Horses Entered in Seven Races Over World-Class Turf Course
LAUREL, MD – A total of 82 horses were entered in seven weekend events that mark the return of grass racing over Laurel Park’s world-class turf course Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15.
Saturday’s 10-race program includes three races on the grass that attracted an average of 10.33 starters per race. Four of Sunday’s nine races are scheduled over the turf, an average of 12.75 starters per race.
Laurel’s expansive 142-foot wide grass course and portable rail allows for six different layouts – the All Along (rail setting), Bowl Game (17 feet), Kelso (35 feet), Dahlia (52 feet), Exceller (70 feet) and Fort Marcy (87 feet).
Both Saturday’s and Sunday’s grass races will be contested over the Kelso and Fort Marcy turf course layouts.
“Obviously, we’re anxious to get on it. It’s great for field size and it’s what makes our card throughout the summer,” Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra said. “It’s always well-received in the Mid-Atlantic. Horsemen from all over want to come down.
“We have a lot of top trainers with top turf horses at Fair Hill anxious to run on it,” he added. “I’ve been getting calls from all around about when we’re going to start running on it. It’s one of the best turf courses anywhere. We’re hoping to get 300 races out of it from now through mid-December, depending on the weather.”
Saturday’s card includes claiming events for 3-year-olds and up in Races 3 and 7 as well as a $40,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up in Race 5 featuring three homebred first-time starters – Stronach Stables’ Sandy Lane, Gunpowder Farms’ Helicat and Thomas Teal’s Best Way. All three races will be run at 1 1/16 miles.
Team Gaudet’s Painted Patchen, a rare registered white Thoroughbred, makes his fifth start this year and first on the turf since September 2016 in Race 7. The 5-year-old Thunder Gulch gelding has a second and two thirds from four starts this year since being claimed for $10,000 last March.
Fifty-one horses were entered in four turf races on Sunday, 16 coming in Race 4, an $18,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up, while a dozen horses were entered in claiming events in Races 2 and 6, all at 5 ½ furlongs.
Sunday’s seventh race, a $50,000 allowance for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs, drew a field of 11 including 2016 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) winner Rocket Heat; Sonny Inspired, a two-time stakes winner in Maryland on dirt; and stakes-placed American Sailor, Grandiflora and Triple Burner. Colonel Sharp and multiple stakes winner Struth are entered for main track only.
