Maryland Million Classic - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Maryland Million Classic is an American Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse race

Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...

held annually in October since 1986 primarily at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel

Laurel, Maryland

Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...

, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

or at Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...

in Baltimore. To be eligible for the Maryland Million Classic, a horse must be sired by a stallion who stands in Maryland. Due to that restriction the race is classified as a non-graded or "listed" stakes race and is not eligible for grading by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The race is part of Maryland Million Day

Maryland Million Day

The Maryland Million Day is an annual series of stakes thoroughbred horse races operated by Maryland Million Limited, a company formed in 1985....

, a 11-race program held in mid October that was the creation of renowned television sports journalist Jim McKay

Jim McKay

James Kenneth McManus , better known by his professional name of Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist....

. The "Maryland Million" is the first State-Bred showcase event ever created. Since 1986, 27 other events in 20 states have imitaded the showcase and it's structure.

From its inception in 1986 through 1992, the race was run on dirt at a distance of one mile. From 1993 though 2008, it has been a 1-3/16 mile competition. Since 2009, it has bee a 1-1/8 mile event and currently offers a purse

Purse distribution

In horse racing, the term purse distribution may refer to the total amount of money paid out to the owners of horses racing at a particular track over a given period of time, or to the percentages of a race's total purse that are awarded to each of the highest finishers...

of $150,000. In addition to the prize money, the winning owner receives a Maryland Million Waterford Crystal

Waterford Crystal

Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...

bowl.

In its 24th running in 2009, the race was restricted to those horses who were sire

Sire

Sire may refer to:* Father, the counterpart of a dam, particularly in animal breeding. See also stallion* James W. Sire, author on worldviews* Sire Records, a record label* Sire Advertising, an advertising agency...

d by a stallion

Stallion (horse)

A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...

who stands

Horse breeding

Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...

in the state of Maryland. Both the entrant horse and their stallion had to be nominated to the Maryland Million program.

The race itself has had many titles since 1986 due in large part to the aggressive marketing efforts of Maryland Million Limited, the series corporate founder. In its first seven years, from 1986 through 1992, the race was called the "Budweiser Maryland Million Classic." From 1993 through 1996 the race was known as the "First National Bank of Maryland Classic." From 1997 through 2004 the race was known as the "Cosamin DS Maryland Classic."

Records

Speed record:

1-1/8 mile - 1:50.26 - Sumacha’hot (2009)
1-3/16 miles - 1:54.00 - Taking Risks (1994) & Frugal Doc (1996)
1-1/4 mile - 2:01.00 - Mister S. M. (1988)

Most wins by a horse: - Three horses have won the Maryland Million Classic twice:

2 - Docent (2002 & 2003); Algar (1997 & 1998); Timely Warning (1990 & 1991)

Most wins by an owner:

3 - Anderson Fowler

Most wins by a jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...

:

3 - Edgar Prado
3 - Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...

Most wins by a trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...

:

3 - Timothy F. Ritchey
Timothy F. Ritchey
Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....
3 - Virgil W. Raines
Virgil W. Raines
Virgil W. Raines was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Known as "Buddy" Raines, in the 1930s he began working as a stable hand and became an exercise rider, notably for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colt Cavalcade. He went on to condition racehorses for 65 years, working primarily on the U.S...

Winners of the Maryland Million Classic

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (Miles)	Time	Purse
2011	Eighttofasttocatch	5	Sheldon Russell	Tim Keefe Tim Keefe Timothy John "Tim" Keefe , nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and posted impressive statistics in one category or another for almost every season he pitched...	Dark Hollow Farm/ Herringswell Stable	1-1/8	1:50.65	$150,000
2010	Regal Solo	5	Sheldon Russell	Damon Dilodovico	Alvin M. Lapidus	1-1/8	1:51.43	$150,000
2009	Sumacha’hot	4	Grant Whitacre	Butch Cave	Butch Cave	1-1/8	1:50.26	$250,000
2008	Cuba	7	Pedro Cotto, Jr.	Bobby Dibona	Leo-Sag Stable	1-3/16	1:57.78	$300,000
2007	Evil Storm	6	Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...	Michael Gorham	Old Coach Farm	1-3/16	1:58.19	$300,000
2006	Due	5	Rosie Napravnik	Dale Capuano	Rob Ry Farm/Jayne Slysz	1-3/16	1:58.38	$250,000
2005	Play Bingo	4	Ryan Fogelsonger Ryan Fogelsonger Ryan Fogelsonger is an American Champion jockey in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing.Based in Maryland, Fogelsonger began riding in 2002 but was late getting started, earning his first win on May 1 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland...	John R. S. Fisher	Erdenheim Farm	1-3/16	1:59.08	$250,000
2004	Presidentialaffair	5	Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott Stewart Elliott is an American thoroughbred jockey.Elliott grew up in horse racing; his father was a jockey for many years, his mother rode show horses and was a riding instructor, and his uncle owns a racing stable in Canada...	Martin E. Ciresa	Ed Cirsea/ V. Papapandrea	1-3/16	1:55.58	$200,000
2003	Docent	5	Clinton Potts	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	Mrs. Bernard J. Daney	1-3/16	1:54.94	$200,000
2002	Docent	4	Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	Mrs. Bernard J. Daney	1-3/16	1:56.85	$200,000
2001	Sumerset	4	Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...	Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. Ritchey Timothy F. "Tim" Ritchey is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He is best known as the trainer of Afleet Alex, a 2005 winner of two American Classic Races, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes....	E & G Stables	1-3/16	1:57.20	$200,000
2000	Testing	7	Jose A. Velez, Jr. Jose A. Velez, Jr. Jose Antonio Velez, Jr. is a jockey who competes in American Thoroughbred horse races.The son of jockey Jose Velez, Sr., he began his riding career at Atlantic City Race Course in 1980 and won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands...	Peter Fortay	Dennis A. Drazin	1-3/16	1:54.51	$200,000
1999	Perfect to a Tee	7	Alcibiades C. Cortez	Linda L. Albert	The Nonsequitur Stable	1-3/16	1:56.00	$200,000
1998	Algar	6	Edgar S. Prado	Barbara C. Graham	Barbara C. Graham	1-3/16	1:56.00	$200,000
1997	Algar	5	Edgar S. Prado	Barbara C. Graham	Barbara C. Graham	1-3/16	1:58.00	$200,000
1996	Frugal Doc	9	C. Omar Klinger	D. Scott Posey	L.W.B.R. Stable	1-3/16	1:54.00	$200,000
1995	Brilliant Patriot	4	Mario G. Pino Mario G. Pino Mario G. Pino is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. Raised on a farm, he began his riding career in 1978 at Delaware Park in Wilmington...	Vincent L. Blengs	W. Harrison/L. Pomerantz	1-3/16	1:58.00	$200,000
1994	Taking Risks	4	Mark T. Johnston	King T. Leatherbury King T. Leatherbury King T. Leatherbury MBA is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who ranks third all-time in wins among U.S. trainers....	Lakeville Stables	1-3/16	1:54.00	$200,000
1993	Forry Cow How	5	Larry C. Reynolds	Ronald Cartwright	Buckingham Farm	1-3/16	1:55.00	$150,000
1992	Reputed Testamony	5	Kent Desormeaux Kent Desormeaux Kent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...	Richard B. Hemmings	Matt P. Kane et al.	1-1/4	2:03.00	$150,000
1991	Timely Warning	6	Mike Luzzi Mike Luzzi Michael Jude Luzzi is an American jockey. He grew up near Delaware Park Racetrack where his grandfather, trainer Buddy Raines, had a major role in raising him and his brother John who also became a jockey...	Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Known as "Buddy" Raines, in the 1930s he began working as a stable hand and became an exercise rider, notably for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colt Cavalcade. He went on to condition racehorses for 65 years, working primarily on the U.S...	Anderson Fowler	1-1/4	2:02.00	$200,000
1990	Timely Warning	5	Craig Perret Craig Perret Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...	Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Known as "Buddy" Raines, in the 1930s he began working as a stable hand and became an exercise rider, notably for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colt Cavalcade. He went on to condition racehorses for 65 years, working primarily on the U.S...	Anderson Fowler	1-1/4	2:02.00	$200,000
1989	Master Speaker	4	Julie Krone Julie Krone Julie Krone , is a retired American jockey. In 1993, she became the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race when she captured the Belmont Stakes aboard Colonial Affair...	Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines Virgil W. Raines was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer.Known as "Buddy" Raines, in the 1930s he began working as a stable hand and became an exercise rider, notably for the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame colt Cavalcade. He went on to condition racehorses for 65 years, working primarily on the U.S...	Anderson Fowler	1-1/4	2:02.00	$200,000
1988	Mister S. M.	4	Jose A. Santos José Santos Jose Abon Santos is a retired Chilean thoroughbred jockey who has been honored by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in the United States.-Career:...	Stephen L. DiMauro	S. F. Morrell	1-1/4	2:01.00	$200,000
1987	Little Bold John Little Bold John Little Bold John is a multi-millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred in Maryland by Hal C.B. Clagett and raced under the Hidden Hill Farm's banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 38-16-14 in 105 starts with career earnings of $2,056,406...	5	Donnie A. Miller, Jr.	John J. Robb	J. E. Owens III	1-1/4	2:03.00	$200,000
1986	Herat	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Jack Van Berg Jack Van Berg John Charles "Jack" Van Berg is an American Hall of Fame horse trainer. Born into a horse racing family, his father is Hall of Fame trainer, Marion Van Berg....	John A. Franks John A. Franks John Franks was an American businessman and a Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. A native of Haughton, Louisiana, he earned a degree in geology from Louisiana State University. In 1962, he founded the highly successful Franks Petroleum Inc. and later invested in real estate with Franks...	1-1/4	2:03.00	$200,000