Tradition. That’s an important component of horse racing. There are tracks in the United States that have been around for more than one hundred years. At the time of writing, fans are preparing for a popular and historic season-ending event, researching 2025 Breeders’ Cup odds and possibly even considering making the trip out to Del Mar.
But people living in Maryland needn’t buy a plane ticket to enjoy racing. The sport has been there since the 1600s, when people from England arrived, bringing it to Saint Mary’s City.
In the intervening years, and we’re talking several hundreds of them, the sport has changed significantly. The love of it has not.
The Maryland Jockey Club
The Maryland Jockey Club was first founded in 1743. For those not so excellent at history, that means it’s older than the United States. To that end, Maryland horse racing has survived two wars on its way to becoming what it is today.
The early jockey club standardized the local format and solidified horse racing as a local tradition, essentially setting the tone for how the sport would be carried out in the United States.
Interestingly enough, this is actually the oldest sporting organization in the United States, also one with a high level of pedigree. It has included the involvement of governors, colonels, and other historical figures. Possibly the granddaddy of all American historical figures? An early reported member, active during the 1760s, was none other than George Washington himself.
His involvement was said to have been frequent. In 1762, he went to nearly every event that the club put on. He was also there intermittently for the next ten years.
In 1775, the club was forced to pause its operation because of—you guessed it—the Revolutionary War. Operations resumed in 1782, continuing into the nineteenth century. In 1831, the club welcomed a second president, Andrew Jackson, who actually participated in races himself. Imagine a modern politician doing the same thing. The group also oversaw the first Preakness Stakes, which was held in 1873 at Pimlico.
The Maryland Jockey Club is still in operation today, and continues to attract members of high renown. Might President Trump be the next national leader to saddle up and hit the Maryland tracks? If 21st-century American politics has had any throughline, it’s that anything is possible. Still, don’t hold your breath.
Racetracks in Maryland
Maryland, for being such a small state, is distinctly rich in nice tracks. There are several notable examples. The Bowie Racetrack, for example, opened in 1914.
It was operated at the time by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Society. For seventy years, it thrilled fans and captivated local audiences. Unfortunately, it closed as a venue in nineteen eighty-five, but later reopened as a training center where thoroughbreds from all over the country test their mettle.
There’s also Laurel Park, which opened in 1911. And Fair Hill, which is probably the most financially impactful track in the state. In 2024, its main attraction, the Maryland Five Star, generated millions of dollars in revenue.
There have been blows over the years. We mentioned, for example, the closure of the Bowie Track. However, the state is well aware of its legacy and has actively invested in preservation efforts, which has included a renovation project for Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.
Racing is important to the state of Maryland for more than just the revenue it creates. It’s an aspect of the state’s cultural heritage. That’s something they take seriously.
Beyond the Track
Horse racing is, without question, a direct source of entertainment in Maryland, but it’s also a recognized component of the state’s cultural foundation. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the Southern Maryland Historic Trail.
Maryland horse history trails are an interactive and captivating way to learn more about the state’s history. Created by the Maryland Horse Industry Board (say that five times fast), it’s managed by the Department of Agriculture and features eleven distinct Maryland stops. These include Assateague Island National Seashore, Glen Riddle Farm, Ocean Downs harness racing, Holly Ridge Farm, and more.
The Southern Maryland Historic Horse Trail, on the other hand, includes seventeen stops like the Bowie Racetrack, the Bel Air Stable Museum, Laurel Park, and the Marlboro Race Course.
What we’re describing, of course, are basically just long road trips. These venues do not exist in one long strip mall, so if you’re going to experience all of them, you’ll need to dedicate days or even weeks to the process. But it’s worthwhile for Maryland natives, fans of racing, or better yet, anyone who loves horse racing and can appreciate a community that’s managed to preserve it as part of its cultural heritage for hundreds of years.
