Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Racing Commission at its December meeting approved the 2020 schedules for the Maryland Sire Stakes and Maryland Standardbred Fund stakes.
As was the case in 2019, there will be two sets of MSS finals for all four 3-year-old divisions and two for all four 2-year-old divisions. In addition, there will be two sets of MSS “open” stakes for 4- and 5-year-old pacers and trotters.
Estimated purses for the MSS finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters are $70,000, while the older divisions are estimated at $25,000. Estimated purses for all MSS preliminary events are $7,000. The MSF stakes for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters are estimated at $25,000 for each division.
The stakes action will kick off at Rosecroft Raceway April 13 with the MSS open pace and trot. Casino at Ocean Downs will host its set of open events July 19 (pacers) and July 22 (pacers).
Rosecroft will offer eliminations for all 3-year-old divisions April 26 and May 10, with the finals slated for May 24. All of the 3-year-old races are scheduled for Sunday nights while the open events at Rosecroft are on the Monday night after Easter, which is a dark day for racing.
Ocean Downs will race preliminary rounds of its 3-year-old MSS divisions June 21 and June 24, and then June 28 and July 1 (Sundays and Wednesdays). The four MSF events for 3-year-old divisions are scheduled for July 5 and July 8 (Sunday and Wednesday), followed by the MSS finals for 3-year-old pacers and trotters on July 12 and July 15 (Sunday and Wednesday).
The MSF will launch the 2-year-old stakes program with two divisions Aug. 2 (Sunday) and two more Aug. 5 (Wednesday).
The preliminary rounds for the four MSS divisions for 2-year-old trotters and pacers are slated for Aug. 9 (Sunday) and Aug. 12 (Wednesday), and Aug. 23 (Sunday) and Aug. 26 (Wednesday). The finals are set for Aug. 30 (Sunday) and Sept. 2 (Wednesday).
The MSS program wraps up at Rosecroft on three consecutive Sundays (Oct. 11, 18 and 25) with two preliminary rounds and the finals for all 2-year-old divisions. The complete stakes schedule and related details will be available at the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund website.
The 2020 harness racing season in Maryland kicks off at Rosecroft Jan. 19. The winter/spring meet of 37 nights extends through May 27 with a first post time of 7:15 p.m. for all programs. The MRC has approved Ocean Downs for its 2020 meet but the official calendar is not yet available. The fall meet at Rosecroft runs from Oct. 4-Dec. 20 (23 nights) with the Potomac Pace set for Sunday, Nov. 15.