LAUREL, MD – A 10-race Columbus Day Holiday program Oct. 9 will kick off the first of 10 Monday cards as part of the newly revamped fall calendar at Laurel Park.

Racing switched this month to a Friday through Monday schedule from the original Thursday to Sunday format, in part to take advantage of a premier broadcast presence on the TVG Network.

The final Monday program of the calendar year-ending fall meet will be Dec. 18. Due to a special Thanksgiving Day program Nov. 23, there will be no Monday racing Nov. 27.

Monday’s second race is a $40,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds going a mile on the main track that attracted a field of seven topped by 9-5 program favorite Believe in Royalty. A gray or roan Tapit colt out of the Proud Citizen mare Believe You Can, purchased for as a $900,000 yearling last fall, was third by a length in his Aug. 28 unveiling at Delaware Park for trainer Larry Jones.

Five of Monday’s races are scheduled for Laurel’s world-class turf course including the ninth, a $45,000 second-level optional claiming allowance for females 3 and up at 5 ½ furlongs. The eighth race is a $42,000 entry-level allowance for 3-year-old and up going six furlongs on the main track.

First race post time is 1:10 p.m.