Laurel to have higher purses, more stakes

The Maryland Jockey Club unveiled the 2012 Laurel fall schedule Tuesday after

reaching agreement with both the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

and Maryland Horse Breeders Association. The schedule was approved by the

Maryland Racing Commission earlier Tuesday at its monthly meeting.

After a 15-week break, which will include seven live days of racing at

Timonium during the State Fair in late August and early September, live racing

will resume at the major tracks two days after Labor Day. Racing will take place

four days a week through the end of the year on a Wednesday through Saturday

schedule, holidays excluded.

The 69-day fall meeting, which begins September 5 and concludes December 31,

includes 32 stakes races, five more than a year ago. The average daily purse

will be increased from $210,000 to $240,000, thanks to revenue from slot

machines in the state.

"It is important to have stakes races bolster our Saturday cards," Maryland

Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas said. "To build our business from a handle

standpoint, races need to be more attractive to simulcast players. We are in the

process of finalizing the promotional schedule for the fall, which we expect

will bring more fans into the building."

Headlining the stand will be the 27th running of the Jim McKay Maryland

Million Day for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions on October 6 and the

return of the Fall Festival of Racing three weeks later. That card will feature

five stakes races on the turf as well as the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis

Memorial Dash.

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