Maryland Racing Commission approves 146-day schedule for 2013

The Maryland Racing Commission at a meeting on Tuesday approved a schedule calling for 146 live racing dates at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course next year, according to state racing officials.

The schedule was worked out by racetrack officials and representatives of Maryland’s horsemen as part of a 10-year agreement announced last week that will require the two tracks to run at least 100 live racing dates a year. Under provisions in the agreement that allow horsemen to underwrite additional racing dates, the Maryland tracks are expected to run at least 146 live dates a year for the foreseeable future, horsemen’s representatives have said.

Laurel and Pimlico have run a combined 146 dates for the past three years, the number favored by horsemen.

Under the schedule approved on Tuesday, Laurel Park will conduct 51 live racing dates during its winter meeting, running from Jan. 1 to March 30 on a Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule. Racing will then move to Pimlico from April 4 to June 8, for a total of 36 days. After a summer break, racing will return to Laurel on Sept. 9 for a 59-day meet.