From a Maryland Jockey Club release
The Maryland Jockey Club unveiled the 2014 Laurel Park fall schedule today after reaching agreement with the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The schedule was approved at the Maryland Racing Commission earlier this afternoon during its monthly meeting.
There will be further Maryland-bred stakes added to the schedule before the 65-day fall meeting begins September 5. The stand will include 26 stakes worth a combined $2.85 million.
Headlining the stand will be the 29th running of the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day for the offspring of Maryland-based stallions on Saturday, Oct. 18, the Fall Festival of Racing on Saturday, Nov. 15 with six stakes races topped by the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash and five open $100,000 turf stakes races on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Notably, the Broad Brush Stakes — a nine-furlong test for three-year-olds and up — has been renamed for the great horse’s late trainer, who passed away in April. The Richard Small Stakes will take place on November 15, as part of the undercard to the $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash. The latter race has been moved once again to a post-Breeders’ Cup spot.
The track will once again group its stakes into “big” days. Opening weekend will feature three Saturday stakes, and three other Saturdays during the stand feature multiple open stakes. In addition, Maryland-bred stakes will fill out the schedule.
After a 12-week break, which includes seven live days of racing at Timonium during the State Fair, live racing will resume at the major tracks after Labor Day. Racing will take place four days a week through the end of the year on a Wednesday through Saturday schedule, holidays excluded.
LAUREL FALL STAKES SCHEDULE
| Date | Stakes | Conditions | Distance | Purse |
| 6-Sep | Thirty Eight Go Go | F & M 3 & UP | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| 6-Sep | Dave’s Friend | 3 & UP | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 6-Sep | Japan Racing Association | 3 & UP | 1 1/16 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| 27-Sep | Laurel Dash | 3 & UP | 6 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| 27-Sep | Laurel Turf Cup | 3 & UP | 1 1/2 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| 27-Sep | Laurel Futurity | 2 YO | 5.5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| 27-Sep | Selima | 2 YO fillies | 5.5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| 27-Sep | Lady Baltimore | F & M 3 & UP | 1 1/16 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Classic | 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 1 1/8 mile | 150,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Turf | 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 1 mile (T) | 125,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Ladies | F & M 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 1 1/8 mile (T) | 125,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Sprint | 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Distaff | F & M 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Nursery | 2 YO (MD-sired) | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Lassie | 2 YO fillies (MD-sired) | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Starter Handicap | 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| 18-Oct | Md. Million Distaff Starter Handicap | F & M 3 & UP (MD-sired) | 1 mile | 50,000 |
| 15-Nov | Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash | 3 & UP | 6 furlongs | 350,000 |
| 15-Nov | Richard Small | 3 & UP | 1 1/8 mile | 100,000 |
| 15-Nov | City of Laurel | 3 YO | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 15-Nov | Safely Kept | 3 YO fillies | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 15-Nov | James Lewis | 2 YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 15-Nov | Smart Halo | 2 YO fillies | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 6-Dec | The Marylander | 2 YO | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 6-Dec | Gin Talking | 2 YO fillies | 7 furlongs | 100,000 |
| 6-Dec | Willa On The Move | F & M 3 & UP | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
(Featured image, of 2013 Maryland Million Classic winner Eighttofasttocatch, by Laurie Asseo.)
