Racing News

Zero Blitz Successfully Tackles Stakes Company

11/29/2025

Grayson’s Girl rallies to win the Safely Kept Stakes

LAUREL, MD— When owner-trainer Joanne Shankle claimed Zero Blitz for $20,000 on April 18, she felt that she was purchasing a decent horse.

“He ran good the first two times out, and we thought we would take a shot,” Shankle said in the Laurel Park winner’s circle after Zero Blitz upset the field in Saturday’s $100,000 City of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Laurel Park Concludes Successful Turf Season

11/28/2025

Carded Most Turf Races in North America since April 1

LAUREL, MD— Davyjonz’s victory in the eighth race at Laurel Park on Thanksgiving Day put a tidy bow on a highly successful season of turf racing in Maryland.

According to statistics from Horse Racing Nation, Laurel Park ranked third in the nation in the number of turf races in 2025, behind only Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park. Since April 1, Laurel Park has carded the most turf races of any racetrack in North America.

Bolt of Aurum Fast and Focused on Thanksgiving Day

11/27/2025

Jockey Martin Chuan wins three races

LAUREL, MD—Bolt of Aurum always hinted at potential, and his rousing eight-length victory in Thursday’s featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a second-level allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs, indicates that the 4-year-old colt might finally have realized it.

A rallying debut winner at Monmouth Park as a 2-year-old, he finished third in his final start as a juvenile, the $100,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel Park.

Pay Billy Returns in City of Laurel Stakes

11/26/2025

Onyx Ten seeks third straight win in Safely Kept Stakes

LAUREL, MD— Pay Billy, the winner of the Private Terms Stakes and Federico Tesio Stakes earlier this year, returns to action on Saturday in the City of Laurel Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Normandy Hero Battles in Sunday Feature

11/23/2025

Laurel Park to host “Thanksgiving Day at the Races”

LAUREL, MD—"He puts his heart into every race,” winning jockey Mychel Sanchez proudly stated after Normandy Hero held off an onrushing Swill to win Sunday’s featured eighth at Laurel Park, a $53,000 second-level allowance at 5 ½ furlongs over the Dahlia Turf Course.

Barbadian Runner Wins Again

11/22/2025

Petingas Twin nips Prince of Jericho in Dave’s Friend Stakes
Grammy Girl in a Willa On the Move thriller

LAUREL, MD—Usually the plucky underdog that outperforms expectations, Barbadian Runner was the hunted in Saturday’s $100,000 Richard W. Small Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward racing 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park.

Lyudmila Looks Like a Million in Career Debut

11/21/2025

Mizoula is likely bound for stakes after winning Friday's feature

LAUREL, MD—Lyudmila, a $1 million yearling purchase, made a strong first impression in Friday’s sixth race at Laurel Park, a six-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.

Trained by Justin Nixon for Edward Seltzer’s Stonebase LLC, Lyudmila ran to her gaudy purchase price.

Barbadian Runner Headlines Richard W. Small Stakes

11/20/2025

Past De Francis Dash winners clash in Dave’s Friend
Talented Takethemoneyhoney “possible” for Willa On the Move

LAUREL, MD— “He’s a throwback from yesteryear,” trainer Henry Walters said after Barbadian Runner upset heavily-favored Post Time in the $150,000 Milton P. Higgins III Maryland Million Classic on Oct. 11.

Mika Much the Best at Laurel Park

11/16/2025

unday’s co-featured eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles, it was Mika’s turn to shine, and the 3-year-old colt ran up the score to win in pacesetting fashion by 14 ¼ lengths.

“I loved him,” Brittany Russell said in the winner’s circle. “I told Sheldon to break and go on with it. He’s ready. He’s been working really good.”

A homebred owned by Nice Guys Stables, Mika began his career in Kentucky last year for trainer Mike Maker.

Jockey Madeline Rowland Wins 100th Lifetime Race

11/15/2025

Siege of Boston ends long drought in Saturday feature

LAUREL, MD— Jockey Madeline Rowland was all smiles at Laurel Park after she guided Winning Trip to a prompt-and-pounce victory in Saturday’s second race, a $25,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and upward.

Rowland, 22, reached a special milestone when Winning Trip became the 100th winner of her career.