by Tom LaMarra

Ft. Washington, MD — Rosecroft Raceway is preparing for its 2018 winter/spring meet, which will begin a month earlier than the corresponding meet in 2017.

The track south of Washington, D.C., will offer 32 nights of racing from Feb. 18 through May 30. Last year the meet began March 18 and concluded May 31.

For the most part racing will be held twice a week: Sundays beginning at 4:40 p.m. and Wednesdays at 6:40 p.m. There will be two Saturday programs — May 5 (Kentucky Derby day) and May 19 (Preakness Stakes day) with first post at 7 p.m. A special Monday card will be held April 2 (first post 6:40 p.m.) because Easter Sunday is a dark day.

For most of last year’s winter/spring meet, Rosecroft raced three nights a week for a total of 34 programs.

Rosecroft in May will host preliminary rounds and finals for all 3-year-old divisions of the Maryland Sire Stakes as well as single events for 4- and 5-year-old pacers and trotters.

According to the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association, training will be offered, weather permitting, Feb. 3 and Feb. 7 at 11 a.m. at Rosecroft. Qualifiers are scheduled for Feb. 10 and Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. Qualifiers during the meet will be offered each Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

For the race meet, Sunday cards will be drawn Thursdays and Wednesday cards will be drawn Fridays.