After a nine-week break, live racing returns to Maryland on Wednesday for an eight-day mini-meet at Laurel Park with a nine-race card, including three on the turf course. The short meet will include twilight racing (3:30 p.m. post time) on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday cards during both weeks of action. The opportunity to stage twilight racing came about because of a 15-year-crossbreed simulcasting deal that was signed in April. The state's harness tracks agreed to wave the "6:15 rule" which set a cutoff time for the running of Thoroughbred racing."I have been encouraged by the positive response that we have received from both fans and horsemen" toward twilight racing, said Lou Raffetto, president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club. The stand will include a pair of state-bred stakes races for 3-year-olds: Twixt Stakes (Aug. 19) and Deputed Testamony (Aug. 20). First post for the two weekend cards will 1:10 p.m. Laurel Park will offer free admission for the weekday cards during the stand.
The meeting ends Aug. 25 when racing shifts to Timonium for the eight-day state fair meet. The 17-week Laurel fall meeting begins Sept. 6.
