Towson, MD — Rosecroft Raceway will offer 60 nights of live racing in 2020 — and begin the first part of its meet about a month earlier — under a schedule approved Thursday (Nov. 21) by the Maryland Racing Commission.

The winter-spring meet (Jan. 19-May 27) will have 37 programs, with another 23 for the fall session that runs from Oct. 4 through Dec. 20.

The primary live racing days in 2020 will be Wednesday and Sunday. The track experimented with Monday nights instead of Sunday nights during its current meet, but Lisa Watts, director of operations at Rosecroft, said Sunday cards produced higher pari-mutuel handle and are a better fit in the simulcast market competition-wise.

For the winter-spring meet, the only exceptions are a program Monday (April 13), to replace the Easter Sunday dark day; and two Saturday cards: May 2, Kentucky Derby Day, and May 16, Preakness Stakes Day. Those Saturdays will replace Sunday (May 3), and Sunday (May 17).

During the fall meet, there will be live racing Saturday (Nov. 7), which is the second day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. There will be no racing Nov. 8.

First post time will be 7:15 p.m. throughout the year.

The January and early February dates compensate for the fact there will be no racing in September next year. The Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association and track management believe there will be more horses available in the winter with fewer tracks open in the region at that time.

The $100,000 Potomac Pace is slated for Sunday (Nov. 15) in 2020. Sal Sinatra, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates Rosecroft, said this year’s Potomac Pace on Nov. 10 generated good results.

“The race is starting to mature, it’s on the calendar now and horsemen are beginning to take note,” Sinatra said. “It was a very good night.”