The Maryland Racing Commission at its Oct. 3 meeting approved a request from Ocean Downs Casino for 48 racing programs in 2024.

The deadline for submission of racing dates for next year is Oct. 31, the date of the next MRC meeting. A request for dates at Rosecroft Raceway is expected at that time.

Ocean Downs was approved to race from May 26-Sept. 5, similar to this year’s window. The Eastern Shore track was approved for 48 nights of racing this year but lost one card to bad weather.

The schedule submitted to the MRC shows that after racing two days the first week, there will be racing three days a week in June on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays will be added in July and the first full week of August with two Thursdays dropped in July. From Aug. 11 until the end of the meet, there will be three programs per week — Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

There will be no racing on Mondays unlike this year and previous years, according to the submitted schedule. The facility will be closed for simulcasting on Mondays and Tuesdays from January through April and October through December.

Peter Szymanski, director of racing at Ocean Downs, told the MRC the 2023 meet was a success. He said Maryland-owned or -bred horses won 67 percent of the total purses paid, and that “more and more people are buying more horses” to race at Ocean Downs.

On the capital improvement front, Szymanski said the carpet in the clubhouse, which serves as the simulcast area and has a dining room, is being replaced as are the windows that provide a view of the racetrack.