Reminder on MJC environmental policies for barn areas

The Maryland Jockey Club, citing "strict scrutiny" from the Maryland Department of the Environment, in 2023 enacted policies for horsemen stabled at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course.

"All trainers and their employees must do their part to help the situation," MJC Acting President Mike Rogers and Director of Security Major Mike Singletary said in a letter to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "MJC is requiring everyone to follow these common-sense policies to help us all avoid severe sanctions from the MDE."

The policies, which carry sanctions for violators, are as follows:

Areas around all manure bins must be cleaned/cleared of all loose used bedding and manure.

All manure bins must be completely covered with tarps by 11:30 a.m. each day.

All fresh bedding must be covered.

Straw manure bins must be thrown up and forward each day.

Trash must not be placed in manure bins.

Areas outside of barns must be cleaned of dirt and other loose materials by using dry sweeping methods, not by hosing the area down.

Horses stabled in barns with wash stalls must be washed and hosed down in those stalls.

For barns with wash stalls, all wastewater generated from horse-related activities should not be emptied into a storm drain.

Water hoses must be shut off and have a working nozzle.

All detergents and soaps used must be biodegradable.

All areas in and around barns must be kept clear of any unnecessary clutter.

The MJC said security officers will be making rounds to ensure everyone is complying with the policies, and that all violations will be reported to the track investigator and stewards for further investigation.

A first offense will result in a warning; a second offense in a $100 fine; and a third offense in a $200 fine. A further offense will result in refusal of race entries and/or forfeiture of stalls.

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