Hopkins Recognized By Racing Community

Mike Hopkins, who has served as Executive Director of the Maryland Racing Commission since 2002 and has worked for the commission since 1984, was recognized by the Maryland racing community during a Nov. 20 retirement party at Laurel Park.

Hopkins, 66, was presented with proclamations from Harford County, where he resides, and from the Maryland House of Representatives and Senate, all of which honored him for his contributions to Maryland racing and breeding in his position with the commission.

Hopkins began in the racing office at Pimlico Race Course in 1980, worked at other tracks in various positions, and was hired by the MRC as a deputy under then-executive director Ken Schertle. He took over in 2002 when Schertle retired.

Looking back on the industry in Maryland and throughout the country, Hopkins said it has been “forty years of change with no change. If you go back and look at moments going back the 1920s, it has been the same issues—everyone trying to make the most of what they could get. But we all live in a village, and it takes the whole village to make it work. People have to cooperate.”

Hopkins said Maryland “is on the precipice of a new beginning” given the creation of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority and a not-for-profit to handle racing operations. He said the new structure represents major change in the structure of the business as do other developments nationally such as the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

“You have to embrace that change, and if you don’t, you are going to lose,” Hopkins said. “Eventually, people work things out and get things done.”

Regarding HISA, which is still in the midst of outstanding legal challenges, Hopkins said it has its good points but is very expensive as far as horsemen are concerned at a time when they can least afford it. “They need to find a way to curb expenses and find efficiencies, not operate with a blank check. I do think they’re getting there.”

Hopkins was asked how he plans to spend his retirement.

“Living life—there are plenty of things to do,” Hopkins said. “I’ll just take it one day at a time. It’s hard to say (if and how I would stay involved in the industry), but I have been approached about a couple of things. It’s hard to get racing out of your system once it’s in there, so we’ll see.”

Mike Algeo, who was chairman of the MRC from 2016 to 2023, said when he was appointed one of the first two calls he made was to Hopkins.

“When I was appointed I knew absolutely nothing about racing,” Alego said. “Mike and I pretty much spoke every day. At every turn, it seemed like there was a crisis (in Maryland racing), but Mike Hopkins made it fun”.

“Mike is truly one of my best friends, and a lot of times when we talk it’s not about horse racing,” said MTHA Executive Director David Richardson. “Mike came from within the industry and is the epitome of Maryland racing. We will be forever grateful and he’ll be sorely, sorely missed.”

Hopkins will remain as executive director through Dec. 31. His replacement has not yet been named.

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