You care for Maryland’s horses. We’re helping you build a more secure retirement.
The plan provides retirement income to supplement Social Security for eligible licensed backstretch employees and trainers.
Backstretch employees must work in the care of horses and hold a Maryland Racing Commission license in good standing, as determined by their employer. Eligible roles include grooms, exercise riders, hot walkers, pony persons and stable foremen.
A Maryland Racing Commission trainer license in good standing and at least 10 starts per year at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course and/or Timonium Race Course are required.
Age 18 or olderYou must be at least 18 and have completed one qualifying Year of Service.
1,000 hours of serviceA Year of Service is a calendar year in which you worked or trained at a Maryland mile track for at least 1,000 hours.
Proof of earningsSubmit a W-2, 1099 or filed federal tax return each year. For trainers, a Horsemen’s bookkeeper statement is sufficient.
Annual enrollmentRegister April 1 – June 1 each year to receive service credit for the previous calendar year.
Owners who are not also trainers, jockeys, track employees and other excluded license categories are not eligible. See the guidebook for the full list.
Your benefit is your individual account balance when you qualify for retirement and elect to retire.
Each year, the Board determines the total plan contribution. Your share is based on units:
Only the first $22,000 of annual earnings is used. Your units divided by all participants’ total units determines your share of that year’s contribution.
You become fully vested after three qualifying Years of Service.
| Years of Service | Vested |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 0% |
| 2 years | 0% |
| 3 years | 100% |
If you leave employment and do not intend to return, you may roll your vested balance into an external IRA, subject to plan rules.
Sign up online or ask MTHA for in-person assistance. Enrollment is available in English and Spanish.
Signups are currently closed.
SIGN UP FOR THE PLANView your balance, review investments and use retirement planning tools through John Hancock’s online platform.
Online registration assistance:
855-JHENROLL (855-543-6765)
Account access and technical help:
John Hancock: 800-395-1113
Download the complete Q&A Guidebook for eligibility, service credit, benefit calculations, vesting, retirement ages, withdrawals and account access.
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDEBOOKPDF · 4 pages
Find the essentials here, or keep the complete guidebook for reference.
Download the Q&A Guidebook ↓Eligible workers are not required to make personal contributions to receive the program’s annual allocation.
Yes. Register April 1 – June 1 each year to receive service credit for the previous calendar year. Annual enrollment is separate from registering for online account access with John Hancock.
Taxable income from backstretch employment or training at Maryland mile tracks. Provide a W-2, 1099 or filed federal tax return each year; trainers may use a statement from the Horsemen’s bookkeeper. Only the first $22,000 of annual earnings counts toward the allocation formula.
Normal Retirement: age 65 or the third anniversary of joining the plan, whichever is later.
Early Retirement: age 54½ with at least 25 Years of Service.
The guidebook allows withdrawals if you meet Early or Normal Retirement requirements; are over age 55 with 25 years licensed in good standing and actively employed in Maryland racing; or qualify for a hardship withdrawal under IRS rules. Contact the plan’s administrator to confirm which provision applies to you.
Yes. Once you meet the Early or Normal Retirement requirements, you may request a full or partial withdrawal of your account.
No. You may request a withdrawal at any time during the year. The April 1 – June 1 window applies to annual plan enrollment, not withdrawal requests.
Through John Hancock, you can select from the plan’s investment options, including diversified choices and professionally managed portfolios such as target-date or target-risk funds. You may update investment allocations at any time, within plan limits.
Log in to myplan.johnhancock.com, use the John Hancock Retirement app, call John Hancock at 800-395-1113 or call MTHA at 410-902-6842. You also receive an annual individual benefit certificate after earnings and service data are finalized.
Contact Allison Bach at Pollard & Associates: 443-689-2549 or abach@pollardpensions.com. For online access or technical help, contact John Hancock at 800-395-1113.
Contact MTHA for a copy of the Summary Plan Description or the full plan document. The guidebook and this page summarize the plan; the plan document governs if there is any conflict.
Learn more about MTHA’s ongoing support for backstretch retirement security.
This page summarizes highlights from the Participant Q&A Guidebook. The guidebook does not modify or interpret the plan. If there is any conflict, the plan document governs. Contact MTHA for the Summary Plan Description or full plan document.
For enrollment questions or assistance, contact the MTHA office.
410-902-6842info@mdhorsemen.com
