first published in the March 2020 Equiery

On February 10, the Cecil County Breeders’ Fair and Fair Hill Foundation announced that the 86th Fair Hill Races will take place on May 23 at Laurel Park. The Maryland Jockey Club agreed to host the races this spring while upgrades to the track at Fair Hill are being completed.

Construction on the turf course at Fair Hill began just after the 2019 Fair Hill Races. The upgrades included realigning the track to build out wider, sweeping and banked turns. An advanced irrigation system was also put in place and the sod was replaced with Kentucky Bluegrass, which needs more time this spring to mature.

The spring races at Laurel will hold the traditional six-race card highlighted by the Valentine Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Racing will return to Fair Hill for 2021.