Handicapping contest scheduled for Laurel

The Maryland Jockey Club will host its annual Cure the Winter Blues handicapping tournament over six consecutive Saturdays beginning with the Feb. 16 Winter Carnival program at Laurel Park. Weekly and grand prizes will be available to the first, second and third-place finishers in the Cure the Winter Blues tournament, which runs through March 16. In the tournament, participants must make mythical $2 win-place wagers on the final five live races at Laurel along with two designated races from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Entry fee is $10, with sign-ups taken at the guest services booth. Laurel Park will match the weekly pot up to $300 each week. The prize pool is based on entry fees and the matched pool amount. For more information, visit laurelpark.com/events/cure-winter-blues-0. The Winter Carnival features five stakes worth $800,000 in purses Feb. 16 led by the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3) and $250,000 General George (G3) for older sprinters and the $100,000 Miracle Wood and $100,000 Wide Country for 3-year-olds.

LAUREL JACKPOTS: Live racing returns to Laurel Park today with an eight-race program and a $6,028.78 carryover in the Late Pick 5 and a $5,411.06 carryover in the Rainbow 6. The Rainbow 6 sequence begins in the third race with a one mile claiming event that attracted a field of seven while the Late Pick 5 kicks off with the fourth race, a non-winners of two claiming event at 6 furlongs. First race post time is 12:30 p.m.