Proposed claiming rule approved by MRC; Fair Hill meet gets final OK

The Maryland Racing Commission Aug. 13 approved a proposed revision of the Thoroughbred claiming rule that was requested by The Maryland Jockey Club and endorsed by the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

The revised rule, which now goes through a public comment period required for such changes before it takes effect, reads as follows: “If a horse is claimed, the horse shall not be eligible to start in a claiming race for less than 25% more than the claiming price for a period of 20 days from the date of the claim. For the period of the 21st through the 30th day after the horse is claimed, the horse may only start in a claiming race at a price equal to or greater than the amount for which it was claimed, and for the period after the 30th day after the horse is claimed, the horse may start in a claiming race of any claiming price.”

The current rule states that for a period of 30 days of a claim, the horse may start in a claiming race only for a claiming price at least 25% more than the current claiming price for which it was claimed.

The revised rule is in line with those in other jurisdictions and also with the manner in which the condition book is written.

In other business, the MRC approved a request from Fair Hill via the Cecil County Breeders Fair for its Aug. 30 racing date and related wagering program. Pari-mutuel wagering on an expected six turf races on the flat will be limited to Maryland.

MRC Executive Director Chris Merz said racing commission staff has visited the Fair Hill site for walk-throughs and worked with the operation to address any safety concerns. “It was quite a checklist,” Merz said, “but we’re happy they hit all the boxes regarding safety.”

The Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland will assist the CCBF with operations for the one-day meet. Officials are hopeful the return of racing to Fair Hill leads to an expansion of racing dates at the facility that could complement schedules at other Maryland and regional tracks.

Maryland Delegate Kevin Hornberger, who represents Cecil County and is a CCBF board member, noted that Fair Hill by statute is eligible for up to eight racing dates a year, and that the organization hopes it comes to fruition over time.

“Horse racing has changed a lot since 2019 (when the last meet was held at Fair Hill),” Hornberger told the MRC. “We have been coordinating with the other players to make sure we aren’t overlapping days. We need to be a stop along the circuit.

Horses have been training over the new turf course at Fair Hill, and the feedback has been positive.

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