Laurel Park has 25 winter-spring 2025 stakes worth $2.6 million
Photo:
Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire
Twenty-five stakes worth more than $2.6 million in total purses were announced by the new Maryland Jockey Club for its 2025 winter-spring calendar.
The upcoming meet will be the first presented by the new Maryland Jockey Club, a non-profit entity under the auspices of the state’s Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority. The MTROA will take control of day-to-day racing in Maryland on Jan. 1.
The purses of both the Federico Tesio and Weber City Miss have been increased by $25,000. Those races will now be worth $150,000 each.
Any Triple Crown-nominated runner that wins the Federico Tesio on April 19 will earn a spot in the starting gate for the 150th Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, to be run at Pimlico on May 17. The winner of the Weber City Miss, also April 19, receives an automatic berth in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico on May 16.
The stakes action begins Jan. 18, a program headlined by the $100,000 Fire Plug for older sprinters at 6 1/2 furlongs and the $100,000 What a Summer for older fillies and mares at six furlongs.
Two $200,000 races at seven furlongs highlight a four-stakes program on Saturday, Feb. 15. The General George (G3) for 4-year-olds and up was won last year by Maryland-bred Post Time, who went on to capture Aqueduct’s Carter Stakes (G2) as well as earn Grade 1 placings in the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar. The Barbara Fritchie (G3) for older fillies and mares was first contested in 1952 and has been won by champions such as Xtra Heat, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015.
“We look forward to building a new era in Maryland racing,” said Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the new Maryland Jockey Club. “The General George and Barbara Fritchie are historically important races, and our Preakness preview day will be a showcase event for 3-year-olds.”
Laurel Park’s stakes series for 3-year-old males offers sophomores a chance to gradually stretch out in distance. The $100,000 Spectacular Bid at seven furlongs Jan. 25 is followed by the $100,000 Miracle Wood at a one-turn mile Feb. 22.
The first two-turn race of the series is the $100,000 Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles March 22 followed by the Federico Tesio at 1 1/8 miles on April 19.
The Laurel winter meet will begin Jan. 17 and conclude March 30 with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday except for a one-week break March 14-16. First post time will be 12:25 p.m. EST.
The spring meet at Laurel will run from April 4 through May 4 with live racing conducted Friday through Sunday. There will be no racing on April 20 for the Easter Sunday holiday.
| Date | Stakes | Division | Purse | Dist. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 18 | Jennings | 4 & up, Md.-bred or sired | $75,000 | 1 mile |
| Jan. 18 | Geisha | Fillies and mares 4 & up, Md.-bred or sired | $75,000 | 1 mile |
| Jan. 18 | Fire Plug | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 6 1/2 f |
| Jan. 18 | What A Summer | Fillies and mares 4 & up | $100,000 | 6 furlongs |
| Jan. 25 | Xtra Heat | 3-year-old fillies | $100,000 | 6 furlongs |
| Jan. 25 | Spectacular Bid | 3-year-olds | $100,000 | 7 furlongs |
| Feb. 15 | General George (G3) | 4-year-olds and up | $200,000 | 7 furlongs |
| Feb. 15 | Barbara Fritchie (G3) | Fillies and mares 4 & up | $200,000 | 7 furlongs |
| Feb. 15 | John B. Campbell | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 1 1/8 mi |
| Feb. 15 | Nellie Morse | Fillies and mares 4 & up | $100,000 | 1 1/16 mi |
| Feb. 22 | Wide Country | 3-year-old fillies | $100,000 | 7 furlongs |
| Feb. 22 | Miracle Wood | 3-year-olds | $100,000 | 1 mile |
| March 8 | Not For Love | 4-year-olds and up, Md.-bred or MD-sired | $75,000 | 6 furlongs |
| March 8 | Conniver | Fillies and mares 4 & up, Md.-bred or sired | $75,000 | 7 furlongs |
| March 22 | Beyond The Wire | 3-year-old fillies | $100,000 | 1 mile |
| March 22 | Private Terms | 3-year-olds | $100,000 | 1 1/16 mi |
| April 12 | Heavenly Cause | Fillies and mares 4 & up | $100,000 | 1 mile |
| April 12 | Frank Y. Whiteley | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 7 furlongs |
| April 12 | Native Dancer | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 1 1/8 miles |
| April 12 | Primonetta | Fillies and mares 3 & up | $100,000 | 6 furlongs |
| April 19 | Weber City Miss | 3-year-old fillies | $150,000 | 1 1/16 miles |
| April 19 | Federico Tesio | 3-year-olds | $150,000 | 1 1/8 miles |
| April 19 | Henry S. Clark | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 1 mi, turf |
| April 19 | Dahlia | Fillies and mares 4 & up | $100,000 | 1 mi, turf |
| April 19 | King T. Leatherbury | 4-year-olds and up | $100,000 | 5 1/2 f, turf |
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