Towson, MD — Given growth in the breeding program in recent years, the Maryland Racing Commission at its Wednesday (April 8) meeting approved a recommendation by the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund (MSRF) Advisory Committee to increase the purses for the Maryland Sire Stakes finals.
The finals for the 2-year-old and 3-year-old trotting and pacing divisions will increase from $95,000 to $100,000.
Ocean Downs will host two sets of finals this year: July 29 for the four 3-year-old divisions and Sept. 6 for the four 2-year-old divisions. As was announced earlier, Rosecroft Raceway after many years will hold a championship day Oct. 11 with eight finals for all divisions, worth a total of $800,000.
For all divisions, there will be two preliminary events in the two weeks before the finals. The purse for each preliminary race is $10,000.
According to the MSRF schedule, the MSRF stakes, which are open to horses foaled in Maryland but not by Maryland sires, will be held in mid-August at Ocean Downs. The purse for each of the eight divisions is estimated at $50,000.
The MRC also approved the 2026 operating budget for the MSRF.