Pimlico turf season starts Thursday

The first Maryland turf races of the season will be held at Pimlico on Thursday, weather permitting. Turf racing had been scheduled to start last Thursday but was pushed back a week due to the late arrival of spring.

Races 4, 5, 7, and 8 are scheduled to be run on the grass. Race 4 has 10 entrants, race 5 has 11, race 7 has 13, and race 8 has 10. This is a welcome relief as field size has dwindled in recent weeks as the pool of local dirt runners has been depleted.

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All four turf races are part of the Rainbow 6 and the 12 percent takeout pick five, which should help boost both pool sizes and payouts.

The first leg of the three-part turf starter series – for horses who have started for $5,000 or less in 2014-15 – will be run Saturday. The series was to have begun a week ago. There will be a division for males and another for females.