Maryland Million races celebrate 40th anniversary of local horseracing at Laurel Park
Updated: 2:20 PM EDT Oct 9, 2025
Big money is on the line this weekend as the horseracing industry celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Maryland Million at Laurel Park.Racehorses are born on 113 acres at Country Life Farm in Harford County.”The foals are growing an average, about a pound and a half a day, almost like a dandelion in your yard,” said Mike Pons, whose family runs the farm. “When you’re looking at them, it’s so beautiful because you don’t know who you’re looking at. It could be the next champion right in front of you.”The thoroughbred breeding operation has been in the Pons family since 1933, and over the decades, the farm has produced hundreds of horses that run in the Maryland Million.”Well, a total of about 24 (horses) scattered throughout the card,” Pons said. The Preakness Stakes may get all the glory as it’s the highest profile horse race in the state, but the Maryland Million is considered the most important.”The Maryland Million is like Christmas for us. Preakness is for everybody, usually out-of-towners come and take all the money home. But the Maryland Million is so exciting as everyone has sugar plums in their head that they’re going to win right now there are 12 races, 100 and some horses running, and the connections with all those horses and everyone thinks Saturday is going to be my day,” Pons said.Pons, a member of the board of directors for the Maryland Million, said the event brings together local horses, owners, breeders and trainers for 12 races. This weekend celebrates the 40th anniversary of the special event, which is restricted to the offspring of Maryland stallions.Pons said the event gives a big boost to the state’s economy and the agriculture industry, and there is more to see than just horseracing.”There’s Jack Russell races, and they bring the hounds and the horses out for the hunt. They do a bunch of different things,” Pons said. General admission is free, and it is a family-friendly event with jugglers, a magician, mini ponies and face-painting. People can even get kisses from the ponies, too.
FALLSTON, Md. —
Big money is on the line this weekend as the horseracing industry celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Maryland Million at Laurel Park.
Racehorses are born on 113 acres at Country Life Farm in Harford County.
“The foals are growing an average, about a pound and a half a day, almost like a dandelion in your yard,” said Mike Pons, whose family runs the farm. “When you’re looking at them, it’s so beautiful because you don’t know who you’re looking at. It could be the next champion right in front of you.”
The thoroughbred breeding operation has been in the Pons family since 1933, and over the decades, the farm has produced hundreds of horses that run in the Maryland Million.
“Well, a total of about 24 (horses) scattered throughout the card,” Pons said.
The Preakness Stakes may get all the glory as it’s the highest profile horse race in the state, but the Maryland Million is considered the most important.
“The Maryland Million is like Christmas for us. Preakness is for everybody, usually out-of-towners come and take all the money home. But the Maryland Million is so exciting as everyone has sugar plums in their head that they’re going to win right now there are 12 races, 100 and some horses running, and the connections with all those horses and everyone thinks Saturday is going to be my day,” Pons said.
Pons, a member of the board of directors for the Maryland Million, said the event brings together local horses, owners, breeders and trainers for 12 races. This weekend celebrates the 40th anniversary of the special event, which is restricted to the offspring of Maryland stallions.
“It’s so beautiful because you don’t know … It could be the next champion right in front of you.”
Pons said the event gives a big boost to the state’s economy and the agriculture industry, and there is more to see than just horseracing.
“There’s Jack Russell races, and they bring the hounds and the horses out for the hunt. They do a bunch of different things,” Pons said.
General admission is free, and it is a family-friendly event with jugglers, a magician, mini ponies and face-painting. People can even get kisses from the ponies, too.