Skip to main content
Weddings
From 20 to 300 guests
Ceremony/Reception
Outdoor/Indoor
Get Ready Rooms

Why couples loved this venue

  • Quality catering
  • Guests comfort
  • Amenities
Kavita
Beth
Lilly
Nicky
Rachel

Recommended by 100% of couples

About this venue

Laurel Park is a historic wedding venue located in Laurel, Maryland. This establishment began its history in 1911, joining the racing ranks. 1914 saw the purchase of the track and the celebrated Col. Matt Winn, well known for putting the Kentucky Derby on the map, overseeing the management of the property. After changing a couple of hands, Laurel Park was purchased by the Schapiros in 1950. After successful expansion and numerous races, Schapiro's reign was succeeded by Frank J. De Francis and the Manfusos, Robert and John, in 1984. Millions of dollars were funneled into the property in the subsequent years, resulting in the creation of the Sports Palace, lavish clubhouse renovations, and various improvements scattered throughout. Joseph A.De Francis took on the responsibility of the venue following his father's passing, revitalizing it to suit modern-day interests and demands.

Facilities and Capacity

Laurel Park is pleased to host a variety of occasions from bridal showers to ceremonies. This venue has eight event rental options. The first is the Carriage Room which allows 500 people to attend your wedding. The next space is the Ruffian Room which holds a capacity of 150 guests seated. There is also a Sports Bar that allows for a maximum of 500 people. Should a party need a bit more space, they can rent out the entire second-floor clubhouse, inclusive of the Ruffian Room and Sports Bar. The third floor Terrace Dining gives a panoramic view of the racetrack and seats up to 250. Otherwise, couples are able to make use of the Director's Room which is perfect for a 75-person cocktail party. Sixteen individuals fit within the Grand View Dining Boxes, and both the Sky Lounge and the White House Lawn fit 300 guests.

Services Offered

Laurel Park offers a wide range of services for couples that book at their venue. This can include anything from personalized service to bar and banquet packages. An appointment may be made with their sales manager to discuss any specific questions a couple may have leading up to their wedding celebration.

Take a 360° Virtual Tour and enjoy an exclusive sneak peek today!

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 115 years in business

  • We speak English, German and Spanish

Links

Visit website

Weddings at this venue

Cody & Kim's wedding
Cody & Kim
42 photos
Messages sent successfully.

Bundle and save time!
Contact Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park and their preferred vendors

FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,000

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$20

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

20

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Banquet Hall
Historic Building
Restaurant

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Centerpieces
Chairs
Furniture
Tables
Tents

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
July
August
October
November

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park

Weddingwire
5.0/5 11 reviews
Google
4.4/5 38 reviews
Kavita
Kavita Sent on 06/17/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Everything we dreamed of and more!

We recently celebrated our wedding, and we are so grateful for the incredible experience provided by our event manager Kelsey and her team. From the planning process to the last dance, everything was handled with professionalism, care, and attention to detail.

Kelsey went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of our special day ran smoothly. She was organized, responsive, and always willing to help bring our vision to life. Her guidance and support allowed us to relax and truly enjoy our wedding day.

The venue was absolutely beautiful and exceeded our expectations. The space was elegant, well-maintained, and created the perfect atmosphere for our ceremony and reception. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and made sure our guests felt welcomed throughout the event.

Thanks to the amazing teamwork of our event manager Kelsey and her staff, our wedding day was everything we dreamed of and more. We highly recommend them to any couple looking for a stress-free, memorable, and beautiful wedding experience.

Thank you for helping create memories that we will cherish forever!

— Kavita & Jeremy ❤️
J
Jessica Sent on 09/25/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue!!!

We had our reception at the Maryland Jockey Club and everything was absolutely beautiful! We worked with Kelsey Spriggs who coordinated and helped bring together everything we had envisioned. I remember walking into the Ruffian Room the day of the wedding and thinking OMG this is beautiful! There were so many small details and Kelsey hit them all. The guests raved about the food and the overall experience. They said it was one of the best weddings they had been to and it was due to the uniqueness of the Maryland Jockey Club and how beautiful it was. The guests LOVED being able to bet on races and also loved that we had the opportunity to name a race. We are so grateful we just happened to come across that the Maryland Jockey Club had a beautiful room for our reception. It was everything we could have hoped for. From beginning to end Kelsey was amazing and we are so glad we got to work with her. Kelsey was very responsive and flexible with whatever changes we needed to make. Don’t miss out on this beautiful and unique venue to have your wedding! And don’t miss out on working with Kelsey Spriggs!! She’s the best!!

(We’re still waiting for photos of the reception from our photographer but attached is one teaser that our photographer got of us at the Maryland Jockey Club!)
A
Anadina Sent on 02/27/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Maryland Jockey Club - Best Decision I've Made!

I was introduced to Kelsey at the Maryland Jockey Club for my daughter's sweet 15 party, and it was the best thing that could've happened to our event. Kelsey was an absolute dream to work with, incredible attention to detail, always open to our ideas, and provided her own ideas to us which was incredibly helpful. On the day of the event, Kelsey and her team went above and BEYOND to make sure we had everything we needed, made minor adjustments as requested, and took care of us as the hosts of 125 people. I will continue to refer this venue to anyone and everyone, and I hope to have a future large event to be able to come back! This is definitely a gem.
Beth
Beth Sent on 08/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Spectacular Service, Setting, Dining, and Value - Simply Perfect

We hosted my daughter's ceremony and reception at the Maryland Jockey Club in July 2023 and the entire experience, beginning with the contract through the day-after follow up, was picture perfect. Our guests are still raving about the food and hospitality, and especially the beautiful spaces and unique setting at the races. So many people commented about how special it felt to be there. The superpower at the Jockey Club is Kelsey Spriggs. Little did we know when contracting with the Jockey Club that we would be getting such an incredibly supportive, flexible, responsive and professional coordinator for the day. While we did our own planning, Kelsey was always available to bounce things off of, to answer questions, to make suggestions, and to help us find our way through our myriad ideas. She accommodated all of our vendors with class and was supremely flexible in scheduling floral delivery and cleanup with us.

One of the other things you are getting at the Jockey Club is an EXCELLENT kitchen. We chose a four course plated dinner with three entree choices and every single one was delicious. Guests were full with the generous portions and thoroughly impressed with the taste of all of the dishes. Everything was served promptly, prepared perfectly, and presented artfully. The tables were set elegantly and thoroughly without any detail of flatware or glassware overlooked. Staff handled our decor with care and enthusiasm for the event.

Kelsey and the entire staff worked seamlessly with the photographer and DJ during the event to keep the timeline on track and cooperated professionally with our ceremony coordinator. Special needs from infants to the elderly, dietary and mobility concerns, seating intricacies and family dynamics were all handled expertly and with discretion.

There were many little touches that Kelsey added to the night --the staff kept the bride and groom fed and watered throughout the reception; quiet spaces were allocated for staging and photography, and not a single detail was overlooked.

Finally, the VALUE of this venue can not be overstated. With so much capacity in-house for food and beverage, decor and service, the entire event save stationery, florals, music and photography is practically turn key. There were ZERO suprises on the final bill and not a single mistake in terms of seating, meal service, or any other detail of the contract.

Planning and hosting this wedding at the Jockey Club was a delight.
Lilly
Lilly Sent on 08/17/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Everything I wanted and more

We had my daughters Sixteenera here. It was so great! The staff, the food, the accessories the venue provided was all just perfect! Kelsey was great at communicating and helping me plan the event. I highly recommend having your next party here!
D
Denise Sent on 01/28/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing venue, fantastic meals, perfect coordinator.

Our coordinator, Kelsey Spriggs, was amazing. We held our reception in the Upper Terrace. Kelsey was very responsive to every email and text. The room was beautiful. Kelsey helped us choose the menu and tailor it to our needs. They were very conscientious of dietary needs, and allergies. Although we had a buffet, entrees were plated for the few vegan/vegetarians. Every guest we spoke to said the food was fantastic! The cost of the room, meals, and extras was VERY competitive! I would not hesitate to use this venue again!
Nicky
Nicky Sent on 01/04/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful and Elegant Wedding

Laurel Park was the first venue we visited. We had a few other venues in mind for our wedding, but we finally decided to book Laurel park. I'm usually coordinating other events and weddings, so I had a vision for our wedding. I wanted something simple but elegant. From the beginning to the end, Kelsey was very helpful. Not only is the place beautiful, everything was topnotch. We had both our wedding and ceremony in the Ruffian room and cocktail in the sports bar area.

Food/Drinks: Both my husband and I are Jamaican. We wanted to substitute a few items on the menu to Jamaican food, and Kelsey made that happen. We met the chef for our tasting and fell in love with what the chef made. We were sold after that. We had a specialty Jamaican drink on our menu, and they made it happen as well. We received so many compliments from our guests about the food, drinks, and our entire wedding.

Communication/Services: Kelsey made us feel like we were the only wedding/events they had going on during the months of planning. I was very detailed as I planned my entire wedding. She was very responsive to all my questions, concerns and many changes along the way. On the day of our wedding, Kelsey and her staff were very attentive and made our bridal party, and the guest feels welcome.

Detailed: Kelsey helped me go through every detail on how I want the space to set up. Between the ceremony and reception, from where we will put our photo booth, DJ, etc. Even from selecting the tablecloth colors. I much say she followed along with our vision. Our vision came alive, and I was a happy bride/coordinator. We were able to drop off our centerpieces, and other items I believe 2 days ahead of our wedding. We had extremely large centerpieces that we made ourselves. Kelsey and her staff were impressed. Her staff was very careful in moving our centerpieces and items that we bring in for our decor and take very good care of everything.

I think overall our wedding was a success. The venue is beautiful, Kelsey and her staff are amazing, and we had a wonderful experience. I'm glad we did our wedding there, no regards. I'll host another event there again for sure.
Rachel
Rachel Sent on 01/03/2020
5 out of 5 rating

The most fun & unique wedding experience!

Everything about my wedding experience at Laurel Park was so beyond perfect, I don't even know where to start!

This was such a fun venue to have our wedding ceremony & reception! We held the ceremony in the beautiful Ruffian room, it was perfect and elegant. For the reception we moved upstairs to the Terrace level where our guests had views of the racing in the background for some added entertainment. Throughout the wedding and in the weeks that followed, I had so many guests comment on how much they loved the venue and how it was so different from other weddings that they had attended.

Kelsey, the venue coordinator, is simply amazing, as is the rest of the team there. From the very beginning, Kelsey kept in constant communication with me, and as we got closer to the day, was always accessible via phone or email. She was so flexible and helpful even as I made last minute changes to the guest count and catering options. And her expertise came in handy when planning out the little details that would best benefit myself and, even more importantly, my guests!

She, along with the other staff, were so helpful in getting all of our decor & things set up the night before. Not only did they help bring all of my boxes upstairs, they helped with setting up the centerpieces and other arrangements. They also already had some beautiful Christmas decorations set up for the season, and kept my personal wedding colors in mind when setting up the area that our reception was held in. The reception area already looked so beautiful even before I put out my own decorations.

I also have to mention the food because it far exceeded my expectations! I was so pleased with the quality of the food, from the appetizers to the dinner & desserts. Before booking Laurel Park for our wedding, I had looked at previous venues for which the price of food was outrageous. For a third of those prices we were able to give our guests a restaurant-quality meal, for which I received many compliments.
(Another note about the staff: Kelsey was kind enough to set aside some appetizers just for our bridal party, and brought down drinks for me & the groom while we took photos during the cocktail hour. And during the meal we had great servers who provided the best, most attentive service to the two of us!)

All this is to say, get married at Laurel Park! This venue and the staff provided me a wedding day that was far better than anything I had ever imagined.


*Will upload photos of the venue once I get them back from the photographer!
A
Albina Sent on 10/30/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Bridal shower

Kelsey Spriggs is the catering coordinator I had the pleasure of working with for my bridal shower! I booked the Ruffian room at Laurel park. Such a beautiful hall to hold any event. It's very elegant and spacious! I had about 100 guests and plenty of room to dance and party. Kelsey was not only supportive in helping me plan my event but also be present and involved but very responsive and a problem solver! On the day of my event she jumped right in to redirect the kids who were overly active and I was overwhelmed but she stepped in to calm them by gathering the kids and playing a game to keep them occupied and well behaved. She is a lifesaver and just overall a great person to work with. The entire team jumped in to help with anything I needed from setting up to helping with pack at the end of my event. I cant thank Kelsey and her team enough for making my event so special!! Everyone was so kind and helpful and just wonderful! The bartender, I don't remember her name but she was extremely sweet and went above her duties to make everyone happy! I couldn't have asked for a better turnout! I was happy and my guests had nothing but great things to say about the venue, food, drinks, and staff. This is something I'll never forget and I'm so happy to have shared it with you all. Thank you!
A
Andrea Sent on 06/12/2019
4.8 out of 5 rating

Baby Shower

Beautiful room, excellent service, attentative and promt response from the team. I was not happy that i paid for valet for my guest and did not recieve it, i also paid extra for sodas which i did not receive all i got was juice , tea & lemonade . When i tried to call the staff after my event they did not return my email or call. Communication leading up to the event was fantastic unfortunately after the event it was nil. Neverthe less the venue was beautiful, staff was amazing and i would have another event here. My suggestion is to have someone to overlook everything because as a host your not able to oversee everything you trust you would get what you pay for.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

11
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Kelsey Spriggs
Kelsey Spriggs
Hospitality & Event Sales Manager
Kerstin Rivkin
Kerstin Rivkin
Director of Event Sales

Professional Network & Endorsements

Party Plus Tents + Events
4.8 out of 5 rating , 116 reviews
· Wedding Rentals
Eric Stocklin Photography
4.9 out of 5 rating , 41 reviews
· Wedding Photographers
Flowers & Fancies
4.9 out of 5 rating , 273 reviews
· Wedding Florists

Map

Location

Schedule a visit

Get an in-person vibe check and have your questions answered in real time.

Wedding couple

Why use Weddingwire to message vendors?

  • Messaging our verified vendors on WeddingWire is complimentary, safe, and secure.
  • Effortlessly manage vendor communications and planning details in one centralized location.
  • Our mobile apps ensure you can stay connected with vendors anytime, anywhere.
  • For customized pricing and package information, messaging the vendor directly is the quickest way to get the details you need.

Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park frequently asked questions

Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park includes:
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
The space offered by Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Banquet Hall
  • Historic Building
  • Restaurant
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Centerpieces
  • Chairs
  • Furniture
  • Tables
  • Tents
Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
View next Historic Weddings

Other vendors in Washington DC for your wedding

Wedding Venues