Increased Jockey Mount Fees Effective May 14

The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association Board of Directors has unanimously approved increases to Maryland jockey mount fees effective Thursday, May 14.

The revised fee structure will raise the minimum mount fee for horses finishing fourth through last from $100 to $125 across all purse levels, while third-place mount fees which are 5% of the purse will increase from $100 to $135. Winning mount and second-place percentages will remain unchanged at 10% and 5%, respectively.  

The changes were approved unanimously by the MTHA Board following discussions with representatives of the Maryland jockey colony and are intended to help modernize rider compensation while continuing to support important industry benevolence and aftercare initiatives.

In conjunction with the mount fee adjustments, revised rider deductions that support both the Maryland Jockey Benevolence Program and the Beyond The Wire Thoroughbred aftercare program will also take effect beginning May 14. These funds are pooled together and split evenly, with 50% allocated to Beyond The Wire and 50% reserved for the Maryland Jockey Benevolence Program.  

Supporting Maryland Jockeys

The Maryland Jockey Benevolence Program was established in 2016 after members of the Maryland jockey colony approached MTHA leadership seeking a more formal and sustainable way to assist riders facing financial hardship due to injury or other difficult circumstances.  

Prior to the creation of the program, jockeys often relied on informal collections within the jockeys’ room to help fellow riders in need. The MTHA worked collaboratively with the colony to establish a structured benevolence program administered free of charge by the MTHA.  

Funds designated for jockey benevolence are maintained as a segregated account within the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account and may only be used to provide financial assistance to Maryland jockeys in need, as determined by a committee of the five leading riders from the previous calendar year.  

Commitment to Thoroughbred Aftercare

The program also continues Maryland racing’s longstanding commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare through Beyond The Wire, the nonprofit aftercare organization founded by the MTHA.  

Beyond The Wire provides placement services, retraining assistance, and financial grants to approved aftercare organizations dedicated to retiring, retraining, and rehoming Thoroughbreds that raced at Maryland racetracks. The organization is supported by stakeholders throughout Maryland racing, including horsemen, owners, breeders, racetracks, and industry organizations.  

Based on 2025 racing averages, the revised deduction structure is projected to generate more than $26,000 annually for both Beyond The Wire and the Maryland Jockey Benevolence Program.

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