Subscribe To Our Newsletter!
.svg){kind=small}
MHBA to announce winners for Maryland-bred champions of 2024
The 63rd annual class of Maryland-bred champions will be announced starting Wednesday, Feb. 26, on social media. In addition to the divisional champions and Horse of the Year, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association's top awards for Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder will be revealed.
The 2024 champions will be celebrated at the eighth annual Renaissance Awards, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. The Renaissance Awards were created to recognize the best of Maryland racing and breeding from the previous year. This year's awards dinner will be held in late April at Laurel Park, with the date to be announced soon.
The MTHA award finalists were announced the first week of February, and winners will be announced at the dinner.
This year's Maryland-bred champion announcements will begin each morning at 10 a.m., from Wednesday, Feb. 26 through Friday, Feb. 28. The results will be posted on Maryland Thoroughbred social media platforms.
The announcement schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, Feb. 26--Maryland-bred Champion 2-year-olds (male, female) and 3-year-olds (male, female)
Thursday, Feb. 27--Maryland-bred Champion Older Male, Older Female, Turf Runner and Sprinter
Friday, Feb. 28--Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Stallion of the Year, Breeder of the Year
To keep up with all of the posts highlighting finalists and winners, be sure to follow these social media accounts:
Facebook: Facebook.com/MarylandTB
Instagram: @marylandtb
Twitter/X: @marylandtb
The following are finalists in the award categories.
Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male: It's Hammertime (bred by ZWP Stable and Non Stop Stable, owned by Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable), Studlydoright (bred by Glenangus Farm LLC, owned by David R. Hughes), Tony Eclipse (bred and owned by The Elkstone Group LLC [Stuart Grant])
Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly: Beautiful Blome (bred by Charles Blanford, owned by Charles Blanford and Teresa Haupt), Great Andrei (bred by Rebecca Davis, owned by Gene Gould Jr.), Shkhara Fire (bred and owned by Barak Farm and Dino's Thoroughbreds LLC)
Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male: Celtic Contender (bred by Fred T. Lewis DVM, owned by Lewis Family Racing Stable), Mindframe (bred by R. Larry Johnson, owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables LLC), Speedyness (bred by Jagger Inc., owned by Morris E. Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc.)
Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly: Call Another Play (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson), Miss Harriett (bred by David Baxter, owned by Narrow Leaf Farm), Splendora (bred by The Elkstone Group LLC, owned by By Talla Racing LLC)
Maryland-bred champion older male: Brilliant Ice (bred and owned by Crystal Park Stables Inc.), Jaxon Traveler (bred by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds), Post Time (bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman and Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC)
Maryland-bred champion older female: Circle Home (bred and owned by Dark Hollow Farm), Future Is Now (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson), Malibu Beauty (bred and owned by ZWP Stable Inc. and Non Stop Stable)
Maryland-bred champion sprinter: Future Is Now (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson), Jaxon Traveler (bred by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds), Post Time (bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman and Milton P. Higgins III, owned by Hillwood Stable LLC)
Maryland-bred champion turf runner: Bosserati (bred and owned by Joel Politi), Fulmineo (bred by Country Life Farm and Starr of Quality LLC, owned by Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier), Future Is Now (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson)
Maryland-bred champion steeplechaser: Awesome Adrian (bred by Nancy Jane Austin Reed, owned by Nancy A. Reed), Super Chunk (bred and owned by Vivian E. Rall), Who's Counting (bred and owned by South Branch Equine LLC)
Breeder of the Year: Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Country Life Farm, R. Larry Johnson
Broodmare of the Year: Celtic Katie, Elusory, Intrepid Tour, Richetta, Safe Journey, Vielsalm
Stallion of the Year: Blofeld, Golden Lad, Great Notion
Latest Posts
R. Larry Johnson, the owner of Legacy Farm in Virginia, will be remembered as a passionate and successful breeder and owner whose impact on the Thoroughbred industry, particularly in Maryland and Virginia, spanned decades. His remarkable ability to consistently produce quality racehorses and his enduring contributions to the sport solidified his place as a respected leader in the industry.
