Laurel summer meet continues strong run

The summer meet at Laurel Park showed a significant gain in handle for the third straight year, according to figures released by the Maryland Jockey Club.

Lengthened to 33 days this year from 24 dates the two preceding seasons, Laurel averaged $2.72 million per day in all-sources handle. That is a 25.5 percent increase in average daily handle from the $2.17 million wagered in 2016.

In 2015, the Laurel summer meet had average daily handle of $1.7 million.

Total handle at the summer meet this year was $90 million. An additional $22 million was bet on incoming simulcasts.

Sal Sinatra, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, said the meet went well and that he is looking forward to the Laurel fall stand, which begins Sept. 8 following the close of the Timonium fair meet.

"We're pleased that our product continues to trend upward with bettors, and that horsemen throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast continue to support our program,” Sinatra said.

The Laurel fall meet has the most consistent stakes schedule of any meet in Maryland. A total of 44 stakes with a combined value of $4.4 million will be offered before the session concludes Dec. 31.

The first high point of the meet will come Sept. 16 when the Grade 3, $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash tops a seven-stakes day. The De Francis has been moved to September from November this season.

Eight stakes will be held Sept. 30, including the Grade 2, $200,000 Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup, the Grade 2, $200,000 Commonwealth Derby, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Commonwealth Oaks.

The card will also include five stakes for Virginia-bred or -sired runners.

Maryland Million Day will be Oct 21. The program will include eight stakes for Maryland-sired or -bred horses and three starter handicaps.

Other multiple stakes days are scheduled for Nov. 11, Dec. 9, and Dec. 30.

The late Maryland champion Ben's Cat will be honored on the Nov. 11 program.