Laurel may stay open for boutique fall meet

The Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Stadium Authority have slightly adjusted their plans for Laurel Park, allowing for the track to remain open for racing after renovations at Pimlico are finalized. The track, which is intended to serve as a year-round training center, could also host a short fall meet with a focus on turf racing.

“Having the ability to use Laurel for a brief boutique meet is a great addition to the Maryland racing landscape,” Bill Knauf, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, said in a statement. “It allows us to take advantage of one of the best turf courses in the country and also allows the Pimlico turf course some time to recuperate before the end of the year.”

With concerns about Pimlico’s 70-foot-wide turf course holding up throughout an entire racing season, Laurel will now likely maintain a second use. The larger track’s turf course is 142 feet wide, providing a reprieve toward the end of the season, while keeping most of the action at Pimlico.

Because Pimlico will not feature long-term stabling, instead adopting a “ship-in” model, plans for Laurel to remain open as a training center were announced in January. Governor Wes Moore announced the state’s acquisition of Laurel from the Stronach Group for $48.5 million in April.

No restructured racing schedule has been announced yet, as Laurel will remain Maryland’s year-round track through at least 2027. Pimlico will host the Preakness next year, but renovations are not expected to be complete until 2028.