Laurel, MD — The early-season numbers at Rosecroft Raceway have been encouraging, according to information gathered at the Feb. 7 Maryland Racing Commission meeting, conducted at Laurel Park.

Mike Rogers, acting president of the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Rosecroft, said pari-mutuel handle on the Maryland product — currently Rosecroft and Laurel Park, which began its Thoroughbred winter meet Jan. 1 — “seems to be trending in the right direction.” He said total handle on live racing at Rosecroft is up 122 percent year over year.

Rosecroft began its 2023 winter-spring meet in mid-January, racing Tuesday and Thursday evenings each week. Lisa Watts, director of operations at Rosecroft, said total handle has been in excess of $400,000 per night with the exception of one program.

Also at the MRC meeting, Jackie MacLeod, president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, presented MRC members with its 2023 stallion directory and noted that in 2022, eight divisional Maryland Sires Stakes speed records were broken or tied at Rosecroft and Ocean Downs Casino.

“It has been an exceptional year for the sire stakes program,” he said.

Ocean Downs was approved for $157,000 in racing-related capital improvement expenditures through the Racetrack Facilities Renewal Account, which is funded by 1 percent of casino video lottery terminal revenue. In addition, Ocean Downs general manager Bobbi Sample told the commission the track is working on a contract with the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners’ Association for 2023 and does not expect issues in reaching an agreement.

Ocean Downs begins its meet begins Memorial Day, May 29, about two weeks after the Rosecroft meet concludes.