Maryland Horse Racing Betting Sites

Maryland law permits advance deposit wagering, a.k.a. online horse racing betting. As a result, most high-profile online racebooks serve the Maryland market and accept customers 18 or older.

The best Maryland horse racing betting sites hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions, contribute to pari-mutuel pools nationwide, cover hundreds of tracks, and provide live video from every track. Most importantly, the operators recommended on this page are established and reputable.

Maryland Online Horse Racing Betting Laws

Maryland’s simulcast wagering laws extend to online horse racing betting, allowing licensed operators to provide pari-mutuel wagering to fans 18 or older.

The Maryland Racing Commission regulates harness racing, thoroughbred racing, and off-track wagering. Title 11 of the Annotated Code of Maryland outlines state law on horse racing betting, while COMAR Regulations provide more detailed rules of conduct.

Maryland Horse Race Tracks

Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park are perhaps the best-known race tracks in Maryland, but they are hardly the only options.

Six Maryland horse race tracks feature live racing, trackside betting, and dining options. Four tracks host thoroughbred races, while the others specialize in harness racing. All tracks in Maryland also offer simulcast wagering, allowing visitors to bet on races held around the country.

Visitors must be 18 or older to place wagers, but minors may attend races when accompanied by adults.

Pimlico Race Course

5201 Park Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215

Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes and second leg of the Triple Crown, is one of the nation’s most prominent and established horse race tracks. Established in 1870, Pimlico Race Course is the second-oldest race track in the United States, second only to Saratoga Race Course in New York.

The Pimlico racing season begins with the month-long Preakness Meet each May and resumes in September with another month of thoroughbred racing. Standard Pimlico race days run from Friday through Sunday each week.

Dining options include trackside restaurants on the second floor of the clubhouse and concessions on all three stories of the grandstand. Visitors can head to the first floor of the clubhouse for simulcast wagering most days. Pimlico parking and admission are free, and minors may attend the races if accompanied by adults.

Laurel Park

3600 Ft Meade Rd
Laurel, MD 20725

Laurel Park hosts live thoroughbred racing year-round, usually from Thursday through Sunday. The track also offers simulcast wagering throughout the week.

Dining options include TIPS Restaurant for trackside eating, Tycoons Restaurant and Bar in the simulcasting area, a sports bar on the clubhouse’s second floor, and the Trackside Grill and concessions on the grandstand’s first floor.

General admission and parking are free. Minors may attend live races if accompanied by adults.

Ocean Downs

10218 Racetrack Rd
Berlin, MD 21811

Ocean Downs hosts live harness racing from June through early September, typically on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The track also offers year-round simulcast wagering.

The property also has a few dining options, including a trackside restaurant. Other amenities include an event center and casino with slots, table games, video poker, and a sportsbook. Visitors must be 21 or older to enter the casino, but minors accompanied by adults may attend live races.

Fair Hill Races

402 Fair Hill Dr
Elkton, MD 21922

Fair Hill Races hosts thoroughbred and steeplechase races operated by the Cecil County Breeders Fair. Minors may attend live events, and children under 10 get free entry. General admission starts at $25 for adults and $15 for kids ten or older.

The track closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and remained closed in 2021 and 2022 for construction. The track also skipped the 2023 season due to a dispute over its land use agreement with the state.

Rosecroft Raceway

6336 Rosecroft Dr
Fort Washington, MD 20744

Rosecroft Raceway hosts harness racing from January through May, typically on Sundays and Wednesdays. The track hosts another harness meet from September through December on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Guests can take advantage of trackside dining and free admission and parking every day.

Timonium Race Course

2200 York Rd
Timonium, MD 21093

Timonium Race Course holds live thoroughbred racing during the Maryland State Fair during the last weekend in August through Labor Day weekend. Admission to the fair starts at $10 for adults and $5 for children and includes live racing.

The Maryland State Fairgrounds also provide simulcast wagering year-round at the Timonium Off-Track Betting Center. The OTB also offers a restaurant on the second level of the grandstand.

Maryland Off-Track Betting Locations

Maryland is home to nine off-track wagering facilities, including two at race tracks and four at casinos. All OTBs must partner with local racetracks to qualify for Maryland horse racing betting licenses. There is no legal limit to the number of OTBs that may operate in Maryland.

• Greenmount Station – 1631 N Main St, Hampstead
  Restaurant, sports bar, and off-track betting parlor.
• Hollywood Casino Perryville – 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Pkwy, Perryville
  Casino with 800 slots, live table games, a poker room, a racebook, and sportsbook with sports bar dining.
• Horseshoe Baltimore Casino – 1525 Russell St, Baltimore
  Casino with 2,200 slots, 150 video poker machines, 130 live table games, a WSOP poker room, a 44-carrel racebook, and a Caesars Sportsbook. Multiple dining options are available.
• Long Shot’s – 5400 Holiday Dr, Frederick
  Restaurant and bar with almost 90 TVs airing horse races, lottery keno games, and off-track wagering.
• MGM National Harbor Casino – 7100 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon
  Casino with 2,200 slot and video poker machines, live table games, a 45-table poker room, BetMGM Sportsbook, racebook, and a 300-room hotel. Multiple dining options are available.
• Riverboat on the Potomac – 301 Beach Terrace, Colonial Beach
  Riverboat with dining rooms, a retail sportsbook, lottery keno games, and off-track simulcast betting.
• Jockey Bar and Grill – 7700 Old National Pike, Boonsboro
• Pimlico Race Course – Hayward Avenue, Baltimore
  Simulcasting is available only on days without live racing.
• Timonium Fair Grounds – 2200 York Road, Lutherville
  Open seven days a week starting at 11 AM

Major Maryland Horse Races

Pimlico Race Course annually hosts the Preakness Stakes and a selection of Grade II and III races. Laurel Park also hosts high-profile races, including some Grade III stakes events.

• Allaire duPont Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 3yo+ fillies and mares, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course
• Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G3): $200,000 purse, open to 3yo+ thoroughbreds, held in September at Pimlico Race Course
• Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3): $250,000 purse, open to 4yo+ fillies and mares, held in February at Laurel Park
• Chick Lang Stakes (G3): $200,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course
• Dinner Party Stakes (G2): (also known as the Dixie Stakes) $250,000 purse, open to 3yo+ thoroughbreds, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course 
• Gallorette Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 3yo+ fillies and mares, held the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course
• General George Stakes (G3): $250,000 purse, open to 4yo+ thoroughbreds, held in mid-February on Presidents’ Day at Laurel Park
• George E Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2): $250,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course
• Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 3yo+ thoroughbreds, held the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course
• Miss Preakness Stakes (G3): $150,000 purse, open to 3yo fillies, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course
• Pimlico Special Stakes (G3): $300,000 purse, open to 3yo+ thoroughbreds, held in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course
• Preakness Stakes (G1): $1,500,000 purse, open to 3yo thoroughbreds, held the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course

Maryland Horse Racing Betting FAQ