From a Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association post

Fair Hill, which hosted its first race meet in six years on August 30, plans to seek additional racing dates for 2026 and beyond, according to an update at the October Maryland Racing Commission meeting.

Trish Brown, Special Event Zone Manager for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, described the one-day flat turf meet as a “soft opening” designed to gather feedback from horsemen and fans. While the turf course has been extensively renovated, a few areas still require repair due to heavy equipment crossings for the annual Maryland 5 Star event.

“As soon as the 5 Star infrastructure is removed, we’ll begin remediation on the turf course,” Brown said, noting that DNR is exploring long-term solutions to reduce equipment impact.

Brown said Fair Hill intends to apply for a race meet over Memorial Day weekend in 2026. By statute, the Cecil County Breeders Fair can hold up to eight race days per year, and Fair Hill hopes to expand its schedule in 2026, 2027, and 2028 with a mix of flat and steeplechase racing.