Racing News

Bella Queen Upsets Saturday Feature

06/06/2026

Jorge Ruiz rides three winners

LAUREL, MD—Show bettors at Laurel Park, hoping to scrape up a few extra bucks to play the Belmont Stakes simulcast, instead went home early in a freight car after the odds-on favorite, Intrepid Mo, failed to hit the board in Saturday’s featured eighth race, a $53,000 second-level allowance for fillies and mares at one mile.

Apparently, Saratoga isn’t the only “Graveyard of Favorites.”

Spencer Tiara Scores Friday Co-Feature

06/05/2026

LAUREL, MD— Trainer Hugh McMahon and owner Larry Rabold were uncertain about claiming Spencer Tiara when the mare was entered for $40,000 on November 30.

“It was one of those [situations where] we let what happened at the paddock side dictate [our decision],” McMahon said. “If she showed the presence of a racehorse, we were going to go for it. She did. She’s big, powerful, robust.”

Big Earn All Heart Sunday at Laurel Park

05/31/2026

Jorge Ruiz notches three victories

LAUREL, MD— “It was a stall accident,” said owner-breeder Helen Marshall about the unfortunate incident that cost Big Earn her left eye. "It happened at Pimlico. One morning, she became upset when a horse walked by, reared up, and her head went through the ceiling.”

Big Earn lost her eye, but not her will to win.

Barbadian Runner Returns to Winner’s Circle

05/30/2026

Jeiron Barbosa notches three victories

LAUREL, MD—The champ is back, bigger than ever.

“He grew at the withers and filled out a little bit,” trainer Henry Walters said of Barbadian Runner after the Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male of 2025 returned to the winner’s circle at Laurel Park on Saturday in the feature, a high-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

A stronger, more mature Barbadian Runner?

That should instill some fear in the local handicap corps.

Witty Returns a Winner

05/29/2026

Jose Vargas notches three victories
Cross of Valor earns Maryland Million Maiden Bonus

LAUREL, MD— The popular Witty made his 7-year-old debut a winning one in Friday’s co-feature at Laurel Park, a $56,000 off-turf allowance race for 3-year-olds and up over 5 ½ furlongs.

Predominate Rallies to Win Valentine Memorial

05/25/2026

Watters rides two winners at “Fair Hill Turf Showcase”

ELKTON, MD—Gail Clark and Turks Head Turf’s Predominate slipped through on the inside after the final fence and stormed home to win Monday’s $50,000 Valentine Memorial over 2 ¼ miles on turf at Fair Hill.

Remembertheword Passes Test

05/23/2026

Hazlewood wins three races

LAUREL, MD—After jogging back to the winner’s circle following Saturday’s second race at Laurel Park, a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds, Remembertheword stopped in his tracks, stared quizzically at track photographer Jim McCue, and seemed unsure what to do next.

After some gentle prodding from jockey Yedsit Hazlewood, Remembertheword entered the enclosure and posed alongside trainer Jose Corrales.

Racing Canceled at Fair Hill Sunday

05/23/2026

Live racing continues Monday at Fair Hill with an all-steeplechase card

LAUREL, MD—Due to heavy, sustained precipitation, Sunday’s flat meet at Fair Hill, part of the two-day “Fair Hill Turf Showcase” over Memorial Day weekend, has been canceled.

After several days of rain in the region, racing officials and horsemen scrutinized the turf course on Saturday morning and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to abandon the event.

Tickets purchased for Sunday will be refunded.

The Stork Club Delivers Friday’s Baby Race

05/22/2026

LAUREL, MD—“What a family. What a family,” marveled owner-breeder Gina Robb after The Stork Club flew past stablemate Paris by Night and held off late-running Gypsy Lullaby to win Friday’s 2-year-old race at Laurel Park, a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight event for fillies.

Russells Start Preakness Week Strong

05/14/2026

Mizner wins Thursday’s co-featured seventh race

LAUREL, MD—It’s a little more than 48 hours before the biggest race of trainer Brittany Russell’s life, and she’s in the winner’s circle to greet a speedy gray gelding named Mizner.

For many, the weight of Saturday’s Grade 1, $2,000,000 Preakness Stakes would be overwhelming, especially since Brittany and her husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, will saddle a hometown favorite, the unbeaten Laurel Park-based Taj Mahal.