The Maryland Jockey Club announced Friday morning that 167 horses pre-entered the 2009 Jim McKay Maryland Million for the 12 races at Laurel Park on Sept. 26.
Nineteen horses are cross-entered, bringing the total number of entries to 186, and the event expects 90 percent participation, according to Mike Gathagan, spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club.
This is the first year the Maryland Million will be run with McKay's name attached to it, a fitting tribute considering it was McKay who originally dreamed up the idea to support horse racing in his adopted home state. At least 20 states have copied the Maryland Million format, which has been run every year since 1986.
Del. Samuel I. Rosenberg sponsored a bill in the state Assembly to name the Maryland Million after the late sportscaster after he died in June 2008, and it passed easily earlier this year.
"I know he's looking down on us right now saying, 'Gee, they named it after me?' " said McKay's daughter, Mary McManus Guba.
In addition to officially attaching McKay's name to the event, the Maryland Million officials announced they will donate the net proceeds from supporting events to Maryland organizations that work to rehabilitate and place thoroughbred racehorses in homes after they retire. Officials from Leighton Farm, Unicorn Center Inc., and Encore Thoroughbreds attended the news conference Friday morning to express their thanks. More than 250 horses have been rehabilitated through the program, which often uses juvenile offenders to work with the horses as a part of their therapy.
The Maryland Million also said it will contribute funds to the Baltimore City mounted police, which might face elimination because of recent budget cuts.
