2026 Jim McKay Maryland Million Day set for October 24

Save the date! The 41st edition of Jim McKay Maryland Million Day will take place Saturday, October 24 at Laurel Park.

Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, known as Maryland’s Day at the Races, is the premier Fall event at Laurel Park. The event was modeled on the Breeders’ Cup and showcases Maryland stallions, whose offspring compete in the races with purses and awards of over $1 million each year. The economic impact of Maryland’s horse industry is $2.9 billion and it is a significant part of Maryland’s largest industry, agriculture. 

“We are looking forward to another great day of racing and exciting event on October 24th at Laurel Park this year,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director. “As always we celebrate Maryland-sired horses and the opportunity for success that Maryland Million Day offers.”

The 2025 edition featured a thrilling day of racing including a remarkable upset victory in the Classic by Barbadian Runner; the first stakes win for 2025 Eclipse Award apprentice jockey finalist Yedsit Hazlewood aboard Onyx Ten in the Distaff, one of his five wins on the day; a gate-to-wire score by Coringa in the Turf; 3-year-old Mosler filly Worth a Dime upsetting her elders in the Ladies; and Had to Have Him speeding to victory in the Turf Sprint. Great Notion, the most successful Maryland Million sire for more than a decade, had three winners as 2-year-olds Slewperstitus won the Lassie and Big Cuddle scored in the Nursery, and Slam Notion topped a Great Notion trifecta in the Sprint. 

The brainchild of the Hall of Fame ABC Sportscaster and long-time Marylander, Jim McKay Maryland Million Day was named in his honor by a resolution of the MarylandGeneral Assembly in 2009. The event was first run at Laurel Park on 1986 and alternated between Laurel and Pimlico for the first few years until settling at Laurel Park.