Jim McKay Maryland Million Day Set for Oct. 14

The 38th edition of Jim McKay Maryland Million Day will take place Oct. 14, at Laurel Park.

Jim McKay Maryland Million Day is designed to promote Maryland stallions, whose offspring compete in the races with purses and awards of more than $1 million each year. Heading into the new year, Maryland stallion farms are gearing up for the 2023 breeding season and looking forward to the success of the resulting foals, the future stars of Jim McKay Maryland Million Day in 2026 and beyond.

"Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, now known as Maryland's Day at the Races, is truly a fun day at the races," said Cricket Goodall, executive director. "The races are competitive and there are great stories behind every winner. And the on-track entertainment like pony racing and horses and hounds adds to the appeal for families and new fans to come out."

The 2022 edition saw 11 Maryland-bred and 12 Maryland-sired winners, including Classic winner Ournationonparade (Cal Nation ), who became the second horse ever to win both the Nursery and the Classic. The day also saw Murmur Farm stallion Blofeld   sweep both juvenile races, as Chickieness  took the Lassie and Johnyz From Albany prevailed in the Nursery. Fille d'Esprit  (Great Notion  ) added to an impressive 2022 resume in the Distaff, one of five stakes wins on the year for the mare.

Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, modeled on the Breeders' Cup and designed to spotlight the stallions, was first run in 1986 at Laurel Park. The day of racing celebrates the Maryland breeding and racing industry, which along with various equine activities in the State has an economic impact of nearly $2 billion.