The MTHA Board of Directors has approved an increase in the Backstretch Pension Fund contribution to $1 million for Plan Year 2021-22 pending approval by the Maryland Racing Commission .
The contribution is up $100,000 from Plan Years 2018-19 and 2019-20. The amount represents a 250% increase from Plan Year 2017-18 when the contribution was $400,000.
A memorial service for Monica Mackinnon, a longtime member of the Maryland racing community, will be held Tuesday, March 15, in Tycoons in the Laurel Park clubhouse. The service will be held at 11:30 a.m., and all are invited to attend.
Monica, who passed away Feb. 20, worked at the racetrack since the age of 16. She had lived in Bowie since the 1960s and worked at the Bowie Training Center with her husband, Brad, until training ended in 2015.
The March 2022 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.
The fifth annual Renaissance Awards, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Maryland Jockey Club, will be celebrated virtually this year as the top Maryland owner, trainer and jockey; Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder; and the champion Maryland-breds of 2021 will be presented online. Special awards will be presented to Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course Grooms of the Year.
The Renaissance Awards were created to recognize the best of Maryland racing and breeding from the previous year. Champions and industry award winners will be announced Monday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m. each day via Facebook Premiere on the MHBA's Facebook page: Maryland Thoroughbred (Facebook.com/MarylandTB).
The MTHA already has announced its Grooms of the Year for 2021: Antoinette Charles Orellana (Laurel) and Julio Garcia (Pimlico)
The February 2022 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.
The Maryland Jockey Club has implemented a new policy regarding the process for cancellation of live racing programs due to weather and track conditions, and in a Feb. 1 report to the Maryland Racing Commission said the recomposition of the cushion of the dirt surface at Laurel Park is almost complete.
The new policy stemmed from the cancellation of live racing on Monday, Jan. 17, at post time for the first race at Laurel after jockeys told management they didn’t believe the surface was suitable. MJC Acting President Mike Rogers said the surface, impacted by overnight rain, appeared to be “responding” at 7:30 a.m., so management decided to try to race in the afternoon.
“Generally, it’s an easy decision to cancel,” Rogers said. “We want to cancel early (because of shippers and Lasix treatments) but a track can improve as the day goes on.”
Under the new policy, when there is chance of a cancellation, there is a 7:30 a.m. meeting that includes the track superintendent, general manager, several jockeys and several trainers. Rogers said representatives of the racetrack, jockey colony and training community must all agree to race for a program to go forward.
