Maryland commission approves 2014 dates

Laurel and Pimlico will conduct 146 days of racing in 2014, the same number

that was scheduled the last four years after the Maryland Racing Commission

approved an agreement by the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC), Maryland Thoroughbred

Horsemen's Association (MTHA) and Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) at

its monthly meeting Tuesday afternoon at Laurel.

The Maryland Jockey Club will conduct a winter meeting at Laurel, a spring

campaign at Pimlico and a fall meeting at Laurel. There will be no live racing

at the major Maryland tracks during the summer.

The 2014 winter meeting will begin January 1 and includes 46 live racing days

over a 13-week period with live racing taking place on a Thursday through

Saturday schedule, with holiday exceptions, for the first eight weeks of the

year. Wednesday racing will be added in late February for the balance of the

meet.

Racing will then shift to Pimlico for the spring meeting, which will begin

April 3 and run through June 7. The 35-day stand will feature the 139th running

of the Preakness, the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown, on May 17.

After a 12-week break, which will include racing at Timonium during the

Maryland State Fair, live racing will return to the major tracks on September 5

at Laurel for a 65-day fall meeting.

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