The National Thoroughbred League (NTL) will open its 2026 season in Maryland with a Kentucky Derby weekend event at Laurel Park on Saturday, May 2, hosted by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The 2026 Timonium meet will consist of seven days of live racing during the Maryland State Fair, following a one-year operating agreement between the non-profit Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland State Fair Board of Directors. Under the agreement, The Maryland Jockey Club will provide the necessary staffing and operational support to ensure the meet can be conducted.

The Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation, created in 1947, continues with its mission of providing financial assistance for extraordinary circumstances to eligible employees who actively work at Maryland racetracks and Thoroughbred farms.

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) and The Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) have announced the return of the Maryland-Bred Owner & Developer Bonus Program for summer 2026, continuing a successful initiative that supports Maryland-bred horses during the state’s annual live racing break.

The Maryland Jockey Club Board of Directors has provided a comprehensive update to horsemen outlining significant momentum behind the redevelopment of Pimlico and the long-term future of the Preakness Stakes.