LAUREL, MD. 09-26-08---A total of 152 horses, the offspring of Maryland stallions, have been pre-entered in the 12 races which comprise the 2008 Maryland Million. Maryland’s Day at the Races will be presented at Laurel Park next Saturday, October 4. First post is 12:15 p.m. The post position draw for the $1.68 million day will be held Wednesday, October 1.
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Evil Storm
Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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A field of eight could compete in the $300,000 Maryland Million Classic including defending champion Evil Storm, multiple stakes winner Five Steps and Cuba, who finished third in the $500,000 Mass Cap last weekend.
Bowie-based Off The Glass looks to become the fifth three-time winner of a Maryland Million race- joining Docent, Countus In, Mz. Zill Bear and Safely Kept. The son of Press Card has won the $50,000 Maryland Million Starter Handicap in back-to-back years. A victory would boost the nine-year-olds career earnings over $400,000.
Other defending champions pre-entered are Maddy’s Heart ($200,000 Maryland Million Ladies), Akronism ($150,000 Maryland Million Distaff), Grand Champion ($150,000 Maryland Million Sprint) and Swear To It ($50,000 Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap).
The six other races on the card are the $200,000 Maryland Million Turf, the $150,000 Maryland Million Oaks, the $150,000 Maryland Million Nursery, the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie, the $100,000 Maryland Million Turf Sprint and the $30,000 Maryland Million Sprint Starter Handicap.
Introduced in 1986, the Maryland Million, a program of races restricted to the offspring of Maryland-based stallions, has been duplicated by 22 other states. The Maryland Million continues to receive strong support from Maryland's extensive breeding industry, which includes more than 200 farms. Maryland-sired Thoroughbreds are nominated before they become 2-year-olds and remain eligible for life to run in the Maryland Million races. After 22 runnings, 199 stallions have been represented in Maryland Million races.
Hall of Fame TV Broadcaster Jim McKay originally proposed the Maryland Million concept and remained the Chairman of the Board until his death on June 7. Delegate Sandy Rosenberg (D) District 41 is planning to propose to the Maryland Legislature that, with a joint resolution, McKay’s name is to be officially adopted by Maryland Million’s Board of Directors for the annual racing program beginning next year. Next Saturday there will be a special presentation to the McKay family prior to the fifth race.
HRTV will pay tribute to McKay with a half hour show “McKay’s Maryland” that will air Sunday, September 28 at 9 p.m. HRTV will have a live presence for the entire card with hosts Scott Hazelton and Carolyn Conley on site.
The Breeders’ Cup Legends Tour will make a stop at Laurel Park with Hall of Fame riders Pat Day, Angel Cordero and Laffit Pincay on hand to sign autographs from 12- 4 p.m. Pincay rode four Maryland Million winners, including the 1987 Maryland Million Nursery aboard Sean’s Ferrari, a horse owned by McKay and named after his son Sean McManus, the president of CBS News and Sports.
The first 4,000 full-paid admissions and Maryland-licensed owners and trainers will each receive a free Maryland Million Sport Cap. Spectacular on-track entertainment between races celebrates Maryland’s rich equine heritage. Events include DRK Miniature horses, Goshen hounds and CANTER Mid-Atlantic. In addition, the Maryland Lottery will have three cash drawings.
Country music star Andy Griggs will hold a special concert in-between the sixth and seventh races. The 35-year-old has had nearly 15 songs hit Billboard’s Hot Country Songs, including “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” and “She’s More”, which both peaked at number two on the charts in 1999.
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