The eighth annual Maryland Spring Challenge Day on April 21 will feature four stakes for Maryland-breds. The feature race of the day will be the $200,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds.The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, a grade II test for 3-year-old fillies, is scheduled as usual for the day before the Preakness.
Spring in Maryland means the return of live racing at Pimlico Race Course, which opens March 28 for an 11-week meet highlighted by the May 19 Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown.The Pimlico meet will feature 38 stakes worth almost $5 million. Maryland racing officials said Tiznow, Horse of the Year for 2000, could make his East Coast debut in the $750,000 Pimlico Special, a grade I event scheduled for May 12.Opening day will feature free admission, a complimentary live racing program, and $1 selected food and beverage concessions. On March 31, the first 4,000 full-paid admissions will receive a Pimlico T-shirt from the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates the track.