Maryland State Fair Meet Starts at Timonium

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Photo: Maryland Jockey Club
Timonium

Bolstered by increased purses and a new trainer bonus program, live racing shifts to Timonium for the annual Maryland State Fair meet, which starts Aug. 26.

 

The only fair racing left on the East Coast, the meet will have seven live race days: Aug. 26-28 and Sept. 2-5. First-race post time each day is 1 p.m. EDT.  Timonium's year-round off-track betting facility, located on the second-floor grandstand, will remain open seven days a week.

 

Purses have increased approximately 10% from last year's meet, when Travis Dunkelberger and Gerald Almodovar shared the jockey title with seven wins apiece and Wayne Potts led the trainer standings with five victories.

 

This year, the state fair trainer's challenge will offer $20,000 in bonus money. Of that, $15,000 will be given to trainers with the most wins and points—$5,000 for first place, $4,000 for second, $3,000 for third, and $2,000 for fourth and fifth.

In each race, trainers will be awarded 10 points for a win, five points for second, and three points for third, while each starter will earn one point.

Another $5,000 will be awarded to the trainer with the most earnings during the meet. The same trainer cannot also earn money from the point standings bonus and would retain the highest earnings bonus of $5,000.

 

The 11-day Maryland State Fair runs Aug. 25-Sept. 5 at the fairgrounds on 2200 York Rd. in Lutherville-Timonium, and opens at 9 a.m. each day.