New President Has Ambitious Plans for the Maryland Million

[Wandering Eyes]

When the Maryland Million program, the brainchild of famed sportscaster Jim McKay, was launched in 1986, it was hailed as one of the most innovative and successful programs of its kind. It has been something that has been copied in racing states across the country. But when TK Kuegler took over as the president of the Maryland Million, he decided it was time to move the event forward, and make it bigger, better, and more lucrative.

“It's been kind of sleepy for 40 years,” Kuegler said. “Jim McKay launched it and no one ever did anything to enhance it.”

The Maryland Million announced a number of new incentives Thursday, which Kuegler promised are just the start of what he and his team have in mind to grow the event.

On Mar. 22, two starter races will give Maryland Million-eligible horses preference and Maryland Million-eligible horses will split bonuses for each race as follows: $5,000 to the highest finisher, $2,000 to the second highest finisher, $1,000 to the third highest finisher, $500 to the next four highest. These bonuses will be paid out by Maryland Million Ltd. and are not part of the purses. The races will be open to all horses, and the largest bonus will be paid to the Maryland Million-eligible horse that comes closest to winning.

“Forever, the Maryland Million has been a one-day event,” Kuegler said. “For all intents and purposes, there were no other benefits. If you had an eligible Maryland Million horse, which means you were sired by a Maryland sire, you got to race on the Maryland Million Day. It was and still is a great day. When I took over as president, I thought, 'That's great, but how do we make this even more valuable?' I said, 'Let's have races throughout the year where Maryland Million-eligible horse start earning extra benefits.' The first one of those will be on Mar. 22.”

Kuegler is planning to have more races throughout the year where Maryland Million horses will be eligible for bonus money.

“If everything goes well on Mar. 22, we fill the races, everything looks good, and the track is happy–we're going have another day like this in May, sometime around the Preakness,” he said. “We will have four more of those races. If that goes well, we will have a whole new Maryland Million Preview Day in September.”

Maryland Million Ltd. also announced new 5 percent Maryland Million bonuses for maiden winners. Beginning Mar. 1, 2026, any Maryland Million-eligible horse that wins a maiden race in Maryland will earn a 5 percent bonus on top of the winner's share of the base purse.

“I have a 100 percent commitment on that for at least the next three years,” Kuegler said. “It's not one of these things that will disappear on people. If they breed today to a Maryland sire, they're going to get that benefit.”

The hope is that the extra benefits will result in higher sales prices for Maryland-sired horses that go through the sales ring.

“This is a great move for both Thoroughbred owners and breeders in Maryland,” said Boyd Browning, Jr., the president and chief executive officer of Fasig-Tipton. “The new bonuses enhance the value of Maryland Million-eligible horses, and that should translate into higher prices in the auction ring.”

Kuegler is doing everything he can to help make the Maryland Million grow. Last year, he had a kick-off party for the event at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and he said that 2025 was the first time that every race on the program was sponsored.

“We can make this program massive,” he said. “I really believe that. We're just warming up. If you put some energy behind these things, usually people will follow.”

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