Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

Brooks Robinson meets Brooks Robinson at Laurel

Details: 15 Feb

Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson met his equine namesake Feb. 15 at Laurel Park courtesy of owner Mary Boskin and trainer Hugh McMahon.

Brooks Robinson didn't race in the afternoon but Brooks Robinson, who played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955-77 and later transitioned into a color commentator for the team, visited the 5-year-old Maryland-bred gelding by Not For Love in the barn area in the morning. Boskin had reached out to McMahon to schedule a time when Robinson could come meet the horse.

Excellence in Maryland racing recognized at Renaissance Awards

Details: 12 Feb

Members of the Maryland backstretch community, along with owners, trainers and jockeys, were recognized for excellence in 2019 at the third Renaissance Award dinner held Feb. 11 at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery near Baltimore.

The awards program is a joint effort among the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Jockey Club.

New Recognition Program For Grooms Begins

Details: 02 Feb

The MTHA Board of Directors at its January meeting approved a proposal to recognize grooms on race days at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course with the MTHA Best Turned Out Horse Award.

Maryland Jockey Club racing official Jason Egan will identify the best turned out horse in the paddock in two randomly selected races. The groom of the selected horse will receive a $50 Visa cash card; Egan will provide winners with a certificate that can be exchanged for the card in the MTHA grandstand office.

The winners will be identified by MJC track announcer Dave Rodman during the course of the racing day.

The program began on February 1 with winners Noe Estrada Rodriguez (Miguel Vera) and Luis Garcia (Anthony Farrior) and continued on February 2 with winners Victor Garcia (Gary Capuano) and Rafael Hernandez (Mary Eppler)

The program will be in place through 2020.

New MRC Safety and Welfare Regulations Now In Effect

Details: 01 Feb

Horsemen are reminded that four new Maryland Racing Commission regulations are now in effect.

No non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be administered within 48 hours of a horse’s race.

The presence of more than one NSAID in a test sample (called stacking) will constitute a violation.

The administration of any intra-articular injection is restricted to 14 days before a horse is anticipated to run. The attending veterinarian must report the injection to Equine Medical Director Dr. Libby Daniel, and the horse will not be permitted to run for 14 days from the date of the injection. (The horse may be entered to run at the conclusion of the 14-day stand-down. The reporting forms for intra-articular injections are available at the MRC website (https://bit.ly/2uW9TrP) and must be timely sent to Dr. Daniel.

February 2020 Newsletter Available

Details: 01 Feb

The February 2020 edition of the Horsemen's Newsletter is now online and available for download. To view this edition click here

The Horsemen's Newsletter is published monthly by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and is mailed to licensed owners and trainers in the state of Maryland.

Racing industry makes case for sports betting

Details: 31 Jan

During a Jan. 29 legislative hearing at which racing stakeholders strongly urged that the industry be included in a sports betting bill, lawmakers announced that a working group has been formed to develop consensus.

There are four bills related to sports betting, two in the Senate and two in the House of Delegates. Though they all call for a constitutional amendment, there are differences regarding which entities would be eligible to apply for sports betting licenses.