by Catherine Plaisant. Photos and videos by Catherine Plaisant and John Klinovsky.

When the temperature finally dipped below 90 in mid-July, John Klinovsky and I looked for something to do that we had never done.

What about a day at the racetrack?

I have lived in the area for about 37 years without ever setting foot at Laurel Park.  In fact, I thought it might even be closed…  A quick internet search revealed that the 2024 season was in full swing, and that horses are racing in Laurel three days a week, Friday to Sunday, until August 18.

The Wikipedia page proudly explains that the track opened in 1911 and that “The Maryland Jockey Club, established in 1743, is the premier sports and entertainment destination for world-class Thoroughbred horse racing. Conveniently located near 1-95, Route 1 and MD-295, the Maryland Jockey Club is the gem between Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC.” [20 minutes from Greenbelt on a good traffic day]

What? There would be another gem besides Greenbelt between Baltimore and DC?

I am not particularly a fan of horse racing (and even less of gambling), but I thought that it would be interesting to see the world of horse racing in action, try to figure out how it all works, and maybe see a few horses up close.

We were not disappointed!

We went on a Friday, hoping it would be less crowded.  It was not crowded at all, and we were pleasantly surprised by how close we could get to the horses, and see the work of the jockeys and the large staff that takes care of the horses and gets the races running one after the other on a tight schedule.

We entered by the grandstand entrance, had lunch and searched for the paddock (which is close by on the right side of the main building.)

In the paddock, we could stand at the rail and see the horses circle in front of the television commentators, be weighed and tacked. A few horses seemed relaxed, but most were ready to run and tightly held back.  One of the horses reared while being saddled. Quickly the jockeys are helped onto their horses and everyone is off to the starting gates.  Track staff riders accompany them, flanked by race officials, also on horseback, for a colorful parade. In fact, the horse racing tradition seems unchanged from the time of Edgar Degas and Raoul Dufy 19th century paintings on this topic.

A tractor brings the starting gates to the start location (which is different for every race, and we could never guess where it was going to be) and promptly pulls the gates away after the horses leave, so that the horses can complete the loop to the finish line.

Those young thoroughbreds are stunningly beautiful. Seeing them bolt out of the gates and run like mad is truly amazing. The flowing tails, bright colors and deep thumping of hooves on the track are impressive.   There were 9 races that day, running back to back, and never a dull moment.

Even though the weather was nice, most of the other visitors stayed inside, watching overhead televisions or studying the book of race information, and focusing on their gambling strategy.

It was also fun to watch some gamblers come out of air-conditioned rooms to see the winner cross the finish line.  They loudly yelled their encouragements, happiness or frustration with the performance of their favorite horse.

I particularly enjoyed watching the horses right after the race, as they return to the paddock area, breathing hard, nostrils wide open, to be quickly untacked then sprayed with water, and walked to cool down as the next group of horses is already approaching the paddock for the next race.
I asked someone is there was any accommodation during 100 degree days? Nope, the horses race just the same.  Overall, spectators were happy to answer our questions, and they mentioned that horse-racing needs new fans.

The races are videotaped from different angles, broadcast on television and displayed on giant screens, both inside and outside in the track’s infield.  As soon as a race is over you can see replays on the large screens, and study the clever work of the jockeys.

It was reassuring to see the vet truck drive slowly by every horse at the end of the race, looking for possible injuries.  Thankfully there were no injuries, even though just seconds before entering the starting gates during the 1^st race one horse dumped his jockey and started racing around the track without a rider. It took staff riders several long minutes to catch him and escort him back toward the stables.  Of course, we thought it was quite funny, but then realized that it probably dangerous for the horse as well.

The Wikipedia page about the park says that Laurel Park is slated to close in 2026 after it hosts the Preakness (while Pimlico is being renovated).  It will be a moment of glory for Laurel, but then it will be sad to see the park close.  Another reason you should consider visiting.

The purse of each race runs in the tens of thousands of dollars, and much larger for some weekend races. Horse race betting is also big business.  Nevertheless, you can have an entire day of entertainment for free if you eat at home and do not gamble. There is no entry fee to get in and we could easily find free parking.

We arrived when the doors opened around 11am. The 1^st race was at 12:30 so we first had lunch, sitting near a window overlooking the track.

One can just sit and relax with a drink the whole time, or as we did, walk back and forth between the paddock, the deck and the winner circle to catch races from different angles.

I left the track with the mixed feelings I expected. I was excited to have seen this beautiful ballet of horses and people, but I find the sight of lonely people (mostly men) gambling their income on horses quite depressing.  Statistically we know that they will collectively lose a lot more money than they will gain. I wondered how the profits and taxes generated from all this gambling were actually used.

It was very fun, and we plan to go again on a day where we can have a proper cocktail while watching the races.  Who knows, we might even take the leap and figure out how to place a bet – and probably lose a few dollars.

If You Go

Where?

The racetrack is about 10-12 miles or 21-25 minutes from Greenbelt (mid-weekday).

When?

Here’s the calendar of “race days” when there’s live racing on site, with betting, and “simulcast days” when races in other places are shown on screens, and people place their bets, just like for the races there at Laurel.

But remember, the track will close for good in 2026!

Cost: Entrance is free! Parking is free, too. Paying for food, drinks and gambling is optional.