Officials from the Breeders’ Cup made a "scouting visit to Laurel Park on Saturday, a significant step in the Maryland Jockey Club’s hopes of luring one of horse racing’s signature events to the Anne Arundel County track" in '19, '20 or '21, according to a source cited by Dave Sheinin of the WASHINGTON POST. Future sites beyond '18 "have yet to be chosen." Landing the Breeders’ Cup would be a "major coup for Laurel Park, located roughly halfway" between DC and Baltimore. Although it is smaller than Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course, it has "more land, as well as the high-end amenities favored by the Breeders’ Cup." Laurel Park has a seating capacity of 15,200, but could be "expanded with infield admissions and corporate villages on the 310-acre property." A future Breeders’ Cup at Laurel Park also would "likely increase speculation of an eventual move of the Preakness Stakes there, as many within the horse racing industry have long suspected the MJC, which is headquartered at Laurel, would attempt to do" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/18). In Baltimore, Childs Walker noted the Breeders' Cup has never been held in Maryland." However, state racing officials have said that this would be an "ideal time for that to change, given recent increases in field sizes, betting handle and breeding numbers" (Baltimore SUN, 3/18).
