Laurel Park has released its first condition book for the fall meeting.  The book covers opening day, September 19, through Maryland Million day (October 19).

Perhaps the most notable change is in claiming levels.  Likely in response to new rules that require horses to move up 25 percent if running within 30 days of being claimed, the new book reconfigures the claiming levels to fit the revised rules.  The new claiming ladder includes $6250, $8000, and $12,500 levels, as well as the $5,000, $10,000, and $16,000 levels which have been common to the state.

Straight maiden races will carry a purse of $40,000, and first-level allowance races will be worth $42,000.

The Maryland Jockey Club hopes to hit the ground running.  The first Saturday of the meet features a blockbuster card: six turf stakes and the $350,000 DeFrancis Dash.

You can see the condition book here, and you can always access it at our Links Page.