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Photo Credit: Jim McCue/MJC
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LAUREL, MD. 11-11-09---After more than six inches of rain has drenched central Maryland since mid-October, Laurel Park officials decided this morning not to use the turf course for the remainder of the year.
After carding grass races in 17 of the first 18 days of the fall meeting, heavy rains in the region forced the racing office to take races off the turf 10 times in the last 16 live days, including today. Two turf races were also scheduled for both Thursday and Friday.
Saturday’s All Brandy Stakes, originally scheduled for the turf, will now be contested on the dirt.
One hundred sixty-five turf races were conducted at the major Maryland tracks this year (117 at Laurel and 48 at Pimlico Race Course) with an average field size of 10.1 and an average win payout of more than $20.
The Laurel turf course will re-open in the spring highlighted by the Dahlia Stakes on April 10, 2010.
-MJC-