Laurel Winter Schedule Includes 17 Stakes Worth $1.8 Million by Maryland Jockey Club Press Office|11.19.2023|4:09pm Laurel Park in Maryland Highlighted by a Winter Carnival program featuring the Barbara Fritchie (G3) and General George (G3) for older sprinters, as well as the start of Maryland's series for 3-year-olds leading up to the 149th Preakness Stakes (G1), Laurel Park will offer 17 stakes worth $1.8 million in purses during its 2024 winter meet. The 38-day winter stand begins Friday Jan. 5 and runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Saturday, March 30, with a 12:25 p.m. post time. There will be no live racing on Easter Sunday, March 31. Stakes action begins Saturday, Jan. 20 with the $100,000 Fire Plug for 4-year-olds and up going 6 ½ furlongs and $100,000 What a Summer for fillies and mares 4 and older at six furlongs. Also on the program are a pair of $75,000 events restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses, the Jennings for 4-year-olds and up and Geisha for females 4 and older, both at one mile. The $100,000 Spectacular Bid sprinting seven furlongs Saturday, Jan. 27 kicks off Maryland's series of stakes for 3-year-olds on the road to the Preakness, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, at historic Pimlico Race Course. It is joined by the $100,000 Xtra Heat at six furlongs, the first local prep for 3-year-old fillies en route to the 100th Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on Preakness eve. Winter Carnival is set for Saturday, Feb. 17 led by the 70th running of the $200,000 Barbara Fritchie for fillies and mares 4 and up and 49th edition of the $200,000 General George for 4-year-olds and up, both sprinting seven furlongs. Older horses will go 1 1/8 miles in the $100,000 John B. Campbell and 1 1/16 miles in the $100,000 Nellie Morse, the latter for females. Maryland's second series of races for sophomores comes Saturday, Feb. 24 with the $100,000 Miracle Wood going one mile and $100,000 Wide Country for fillies sprinting seven furlongs. Saturday, March 16 offers the $100,000 Harrison E. Johnson Memorial for 4-year-olds and up at one mile, and a pair of $75,000 sprints restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses – the six-furlong Not For Love for 4-year-olds and up and seven-furlong Conniver for fillies and mares 4 and older. The winter meet stakes schedule wraps up Saturday, March 23 with the $100,000 Private Terms for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Beyond the Wire for 3-year-old fillies.