Laurel Park

Laurel Park came upon the racing scene in 1911, but its first meet was not held until 1914. Three years later on October 18, 1917, Laurel was the site of the historic match race in which Hourless, that year's Belmont Stakes winner, defeated Omar Khayyam, that year's Kentucky Derby winner

From 1947 to 1984 the track changed a great deal. It was renamed Laurel Race Course and the Washington, DC International was introduced. In 1984 the track was sold to Frank J. DeFrancis and several business partners. In 1989 Frank DeFrancis died but his son Joe began managing the track. The track was later purchased by Magna Entertainment Corp and in 2004 and 2005 the dirt and turf courses were refurbished. The name also went back to Laurel Park.