The turf track at Fair Hill, Maryland has hosted some of thoroughbred racing’s best jump horses over the years, but it’s been very quiet since the pandemic.

The Fair Hill Races have lineage back to 1934, but the need for an upgraded turf surface, along with funding issues, led to a six-year pause that will end Saturday with the renamed “Races at Fair Hill” at the Fair Hill Special Events Zone at 4600 Telegraph Road (Route 273), five miles west of Newark.

All six of Saturday’s races will be contested on flat surfaces, but at higher weights that signify horses that have, or will eventually be trying, jump races.

The event is being hosted by the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, which hosts the annual Maryland 5* event at Fair Hill, and also sponsors the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown.

Senior Vice President Jeff Newman said renovating the turf was important, but also trying to rebuild the purse structure, which will offer a total of $150,000 over the six races.

“People have been moving in the right direction to get the track ready, so it just took some time to bring it back, and it also took a promoter and some financial resources.”

This year’s event features free admission and parking.

In the 80s, Fair Hill often had racing on both Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekend, and Newman said this will be a great chance to test the demand for more horse racing in the part of Maryland with the most horses.

“It’s going to take some time to do that. It’s get one going, hopefully a second, hopefully a third, and then get some regular programming going at the venue.”

Newman said if the turf course holds up, the hope is jump racing would resume at those future events, where in the past it was a mix of flat and jump races.

This year’s Races at Fair Hill will be free, with the gates opening at 11 a.m. for the six-race card that starts at 1 p.m., with a race scheduled every 40 minutes.

Fair Hill will maintain its status as one of the few hunt meets that allow peri-mutuel wagering, just like you’d have at Delaware Park or major thoroughbred tracks.

Besides the jumps, another thing that will be missing will be the tailgates, which will not be running this time, although Newman was hopeful if they run next year, they would be included.

General admission seating will be permitted in the grandstands and box area, first come, first serve, and you’re invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit in the grassy areas for a picnic.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages are permitted, and will also be sold, but glass bottles are prohibited. Alcohol and food vendors will be available.