The second season of horse racing in Maryland gets underway Aug. 22 with nine races at the Maryland State Fair at Timonium.
The only fair east of the Mississippi that still conducts a sanctioned Thoroughbred meeting, the brief stand covers seven days contested over successive weekends, ending on Labor Day, Sept. 1. The fall meeting at Laurel Park starts Sept. 5.
"We're happy to get back to business after the summer break," said racing secretary Georganne Hale. "I'm especially pleased with the initial support from horsemen throughout the region."
Last year J.D. Acosta accepted 60 mounts at the fair and led all riders with sixteen wins. He has six mounts on opening day. Trainer Hugh McMahon sent out 19 starters in 2013 and won with nine. Sniper, who breaks from the rail in the curtain-raising allowance feature, is his only opening-day starter.
Timonium will again offer a $10,000 trainers bonus, awarded to the top four conditioners with the most wins and the most starts.
The Maryland State Fair remains a family friendly introduction to Thoroughbreds and horse racing in Baltimore County, with the allure of funnel cakes, thrill rides, and games of chance on the midway and at the racetrack. Admission to the races is included with admission to the fair.
First post daily is 1 p.m. EDT The Timonium fair grounds is located one mile north of Baltimore's Interstate 695 and east of Interstate 81, exiting at Padonia Road.