Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

MJC Track Crew Works To Even Surface Content

Details: 29 Sep

The Maryland Jockey Club track maintenance crew has been adding some clay to portions of the Laurel Park dirt surface—mainly from the half-mile pole to the 1/8 pole—to make the composition consistent with the rest of the surface heading into the cold-weather months.

MJC Track Superintendent Chris Bosley said the goal is to have 2% clay content across the surface. But based on test results, the area in question had clay content of 1% to 1.5%, he said.

Fire and Disaster Insurance Continues

Details: 29 Sep

Fire and disaster insurance has been renewed for another 12 months. Under this policy, MTHA members may be compensated for death or humane destruction of their horses due to a number of perils, including fire, lightning, wind storm, smoke and flood.

Coverage extends to horses located at or in transit to or from Laurel, Pimlico and Timonium. Additionally, horses are covered when in transit from Laurel, Pimlico or Timonium to race and return from out-of-state tracks. To file a claim or for assistance call the MTHA Business office at 410-902-6842.

MTHA Welcomes MedStar’s Dr. Brodine To Health System

Details: 02 Sep

Dr. Joseph Brodine, who grew up not far from Laurel Park in Jessup, Md., is the newest member of the MedStar Health medical team that staffs the Horsemen’s Health System on live racing days.

Brodine, 39, attended medical school at Georgetown University and trained to become a doctor at Franklin Square Medical Center and John Hopkins. Prior to becoming a physician, the native of Durham, N.C., was a nurse for five years in the John Hopkins Hospital intensive care unit.

MTHA Continues Strong Support For MD-Bred Enhancements

Details: 02 Sep

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is proud of its continued contributions towards the Maryland-Bred program and its partnership with the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. The MTHA since 2014 has continued to build upon its contributions to the Maryland-Bred Enhancement Program, and the trend is expected to continue this year.

In 2021, the last full year of statistics, the Maryland-Bred Enhancement Program—breeder awards, owner bonuses, developer bonuses, stallion awards, Maryland-bred/sired allowance purses, Maryland-bred stakes and Maryland Million purses—totaled $12.17 million. Of that amount, the MTHA authorized allocations of $5.84 million (48.02%) from the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account, nearly half of purse and bonus funds devoted to Maryland-bred development in the state.

Beyond The Wire Reorganizes Directors

Details: 02 Sep

After consultation with various members of the Maryland thoroughbred industry, the Beyond The Wire Board of Directors has undergone some restructuring that makes it consistent with the organization’s bylaws. The action was taken during the annual meeting Aug. 19 at Laurel Park.

The Board now consists of 10 voting members, three non-voting members who comprise administration, and an advisory committee that currently stands at 12 members.

Sanchez-Salomon Takes Meet Championship

Details: 02 Sep

Rodolpho Sanchez-Salomon, who got his training license in 2017, won his first title at the Laurel Park summer meet with 19 victories, one more than Claudio Gonzalez. Sanchez-Salomon, who works closely with his assistant, Joanne Shankle, at Laurel, had worked for trainers Scott Lake and Dane Kobiskie before going out on his own.

“I don’t know exactly what I feel right now, but I’m very happy,” Sanchez-Salomon said. “It’s been a great meet. Everything has been great for us. We’ve been very blessed. I thank God and thank my help and thank everybody. I have no words to say how I feel, really. I appreciate everything.”