The May 2026 issue is ready for you!  In anticipation of an historic 2026 Preakness at Laurel Park, the editorial staff went all out with this magazine–filled with great stories leading up to the big day, plus all your usual favorites. Preakness ships to Laurel for 2026 Everything is the same – yet different – as Maryland’s biggest Thoroughbred weekend heads to substitute venue Laurel Park for 2026. By Tom Law. Laurel deserves Preakness showcase To the people there every day, Laurel Park is ready for its big moment as a Preakness host. On-track, it might be more ready than Pimlico. By Joe Clancy. The ‘Lost’ Preaknesses The 2026 edition isn’t the first Preakness to occur away from Pimlico. Decades ago, racing historians David Woods and Joe Hickey found the others. By Cindy Deubler. Laurel legends set table for 2026 Seabiscuit, War Admiral, Kelso, Sir Ivor, Secretariat and plenty of other greats graced Laurel Park in a history that started in 1911. By Joe Clancy. Trackside Laurel Park: Miss Fulton Gal shines The last horse purchased by Vince Bracciale, 3-year-old filly Miss Fulton Gal becomes a stakes winner. By Paul Halloran. Into the Far Turn with Retired Racehorse Project The Retired Racehorse Project works on its future by creating strategic plan, looking forward. By Kristen Kovatch Bentley. Enjoy the read! Click the cover to get started.

The recommended increases in breeder bonuses, presented at today's Maryland Racing Commission meeting by the Maryland Fund Advisory Committee, were passed for the period of January 1 through June 30, 2026. Recommendations presented on behalf of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA), as administrator of the MBRF: - Increase the percentages for Breeder Bonuses to 24 percent and Stallion Bonuses to 8 percent, paid for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd on all overnight and stakes races (capped at $100,000). Maryland Million Day will remain Breeder 15 percent and Stallion 5 percent. - Increase the Breeder Bonus for Maryland-sired* Maryland-breds foaled in 2023 and after to 33.6 percent (40 percent more than the bonus for non-Maryland-sired Maryland-breds) for 1st, 2nd and 3rd on all overnight races. *Sire must be registered. - Increase the percentage for the additional Maryland-sired* Maryland-bred maiden winner Breeder Bonus to 8 percent (for foals of 2022 and earlier). *Sire must be registered. "We are happy that the Maryland Racing Commission recognizes the importance Maryland-bred and -sired horses are to our racing product," said MHBA Executive Director Cricket Goodall. "The Maryland-Bred Race Fund bonus program is vital to rewarding breeders for doing their business in Maryland." For more information on the Maryland-Bred Race Fund program, visit https://marylandthoroughbred.com/cms/index.php/foals/md-bred-fund/about-the-md-bred-fund

Become a member now!  

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) is pleased to announce the new Maryland Broodmare Incentive Program for 2026. This program is designed to encourage broodmare buyers this year to bring new mares to Maryland to foal in 2026 and be bred back to a Maryland stallion. The program will offer a total of $50,000 for 2026 incentives to buyers/owners of broodmares that are new to Maryland. If the mare that is purchased meets the requirements, has an application filed and qualifies, the mare owner will get back 20% of the purchase price of the mare. "We are excited about this new broodmare purchase program because we want more mares and foals in Maryland," said Lisa Hofstetter, MHBA Board member and owner of Northview Stallion Station, "We believe this program will be a valuable asset to the stallion farms and also be very helpful to small and large breeders alike who want to add mares to their broodmare band." To qualify for this new Maryland Broodmare Incentive Program, mares must be purchased from a recognized public auction and be in foal at the time of purchase. She must drop her 2026 foal in Maryland and be bred to a Maryland stallion in the 2026 breeding season. The mare must not have foaled in Maryland in the previous two years. The incentive for the mare buyer/owner is a 20% reimbursement of purchase price (a minimum qualifying purchase of $5,000 and a maximum of $30,000). The reimbursement per one individual or entity is limited to $10,000. Applications will be due after the mare has been confirmed to be 45 days in foal in 2026. The program runs through the end of the 2026 breeding season. The funds from the $50,000 incentive fund will be distributed on a first come, first served basis to the qualified applicants.

The Maryland Horse Library & Education Center's annual book sale and equine art sale is set for Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 321 Main Street in historic Reisterstown. The book and art sale at the Maryland Horse Library & Education Center is a part of the Preakness 150 Festival celebrations. A large collection of classic books, many out-of-print, as well as newer offerings, will be available for purchase at bargain prices. Any and all equine topics are covered. "The MHLEC has accumulated a great collection of duplicate books, all of which would be wonderful additions to someone's personal library," said library manager Cindy Deubler. "It's a horse-lover's and book-lover's dream. History to fiction, and everything in between, can be found on the sales tables, the majority selling for $5." Added for the first time will be some Equine art -- from framed prints to a variety of posters. "We are so happy to celebrate horses with books and art while the spotlight is on the 150th anniversary of the Preakness," comments Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Foundation. In conjunction with the book and art sale and 150th Preakness Festival celebrations, the MHLEC will host two special events. On the evening of Thursday, May 8, the connections of 1983 Preakness-winning Maryland-bred Deputed Testamony -- members of the Boniface family, who bred, owned and trained him, as well as winning jockey Donnie Miller -- will sit down to share experiences of their classic winning journey. Also to be shown that evening is the ABC Sports coverage of the race. Friday evening, May 9, the MHLEC will present a special showing of the Eclipse Award-winning film "The Preakness: An American Classic," which made its debut 25 years ago. Prior to showing the film, Karin De Francis, executive producer of the film, and Eclipse Award-winning writer John Scheinman will discuss the film and reminisce about the race. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for both evening events, with discussions to start at 7 p.m. All events are free, but space is limited. Please register in advance by visiting https://marylandhorse.com/events/

The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA), established by the General Assembly in 2023, will be dissolved under the 2025 Maryland Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act. Effective July 1, 2025, The Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) will operate under the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), a move widely supported by the racing industry. The budget bill, passed by the General Assembly on April 7—the final day of the 2025 legislative session—transitions TMJC to MEDCO oversight. This change is designed to streamline racetrack operations and enhance flexibility at both Pimlico and Laurel Park. TMJC assumed operational control of both racetracks from 1/ST Racing (The Stronach Group) on Jan. 1, 2025, under a 2024 agreement that transferred ownership of Pimlico to the state and allowed the not-for-profit TMJC to lease and manage Laurel Park. Despite published reports suggesting the General Assembly planned to eliminate TMJC, the legislative language clearly maintains its role within the new structure. The MTROA was originally tasked with establishing a separate board of directors for TMJC, but that board had not yet been formed as of early April. Industry leaders have consistently advocated for its formation. Legislators emphasized that the restructuring will not delay the redevelopment timeline for Pimlico. Site work is expected to begin shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 spring meet on Preakness Day, May 17. The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) will continue to oversee the Pimlico Plus Plan, with the goal of accelerating the redevelopment process. A proposed one-time $20 million reduction in Pimlico redevelopment funding was successfully reduced to approximately $6 million following advocacy from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “The Pimlico Plus Plan remains fully on track under the auspices of the MSA,” said the MTHA in a statement on April 5, “and we look forward to working closely with MEDCO and continuing our partnership with TMJC as the industry transitions to a new, state-of-the-art Pimlico facility and a world-class training center at Shamrock Farm.” MTHA President Katharine Voss expressed confidence in the direction of the new structure: “This is a smart and positive step forward for Maryland racing,” she said. “With TMJC now under MEDCO, we expect to see greater momentum behind the projects that are vital to the future of our sport here in Maryland.”

James T. Dresher, Jr. was founder, principal, and CEO of Skye Hospitality, LLC.  Skye developed, owned, and managed ten Hilton and Marriott-branded hotels in the Baltimore region including four properties in White Marsh and four at Arundel Mills Mall.  Skye sold its hotel portfolio to MCR Development, a hotel ownership group based in New York and changed the company name to Skye Asset Management LLC. Skye Asset Management currently leads an investment group whose portfolio includes ownership in several private companies in the banking, bio-tech, and social media industries. Prior to entering the hotel business, Dresher co-owned a chain of McDonald’s restaurants in the Baltimore area. Dresher is Past Chairman of the Board of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Board of Trustees and currently serves on the board of Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He is a past member of the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Maryland Horse Breeders Association Board of Directors. Dresher and his wife, Patti, own and operate Glenangus Farm in Bel Air, Maryland where they raise thoroughbred horses. Connect with James and David on LinkedIn David Nevins is president & CEO of Nevins & Associates, a highly regarded strategic communications company and proactive public relations partner. The firm’s regional and national client base is a unique mix of organizations across a variety of industries including: healthcare, professional service firms, finance, not-for-profits, distributors, state agencies, national media companies, technology, political and grassroots campaigns, real estate development, sporting events, and more. With more than 30 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and community and government relations, David is a talented and seasoned executive. Prior to founding Nevins & Associates in 1983, David served as the Director of Marketing for both Towson University and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In 2001, he was tapped by the CEO of Comcast to employ his marketing expertise as President of the company’s regional sports network, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. David is a Past President of the Board of Governors for the Center Club and is a former Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University System of Maryland, a position to which he was appointed by the Governor of Maryland. David has chaired the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and the Maryland Higher Education Loan Corporation, served as President of both the Jewish National Fund and the Towson Business Association and was a member of the PNC Bank board. David is highly involved in the business, civic, and political communities, and his many years of active leadership in numerous organizations have built a network of contacts that he regularly puts to use for the firm’s clients. For more information, visit www.nevinspr.com. WATCH INTERVIEW HERE!

WBALTV News 11 visited the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center to highlight the traveling exhibit “Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers" from the Keeneland Library! Watch the news clip HERE!  

The Maryland Horse Library and Education Center kicked off Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 1, by hosting Keeneland Library's traveling exhibit The Heart of the Turf: Racing's Black Pioneers. Along with the exhibit's arrival, exhibit curator and Keeneland Library director Roda Ferraro gave a talk providing context and highlighting the lives and careers of Black horsemen and horsewomen from the mid-1800s to the present. From racetrack superstars to behind-the-scenes caretakers, Ferraro gave just a tiny glimpse into the vast history of this topic with stories of just a few of the countless African Americans who forged their way in horse racing in Kentucky and beyond. Ferraro also dived into the history of Lexington's East End, home to the Kentucky Association track from the late 1820s through 1933, the nucleus of a thriving Black community. By the late 1800s, four future Racing Hall of Famers lived in Lexington's East End: jockeys Isaac Burns Murphy and Jimmy Winkfield, trainer Ansel Williamson, and trainer/owner Edward Dudley Brown. Hundreds of others bought homes, built businesses, and raised their families in surrounding neighborhoods. The event's opening also featured a book signing by Alvin Stone, author of Stoney: The Story of my Dad's Life, an African American Groom of Horse Racing. A Baltimore resident, Stone tells a personal story of his family's connection to horses. The exhibit, a total of nine interpretive panels that include particulars on a number of those discussed by Ferraro, will be on display at MHLEC, 321 Main Street in Historic Reisterstown through the end of February. Additional events and displays will also be featured throughout the month.

(Reisterstown, MD – January 29, 2025) ThoroughbredAuctions.com announces the Maryland Horse Foundation Stallion Season to be held online from February 9th to February 12th. 12 stallions are being offered, including Blofield, Bourbon Courage, Cupid, Divining Rod, Engage, Friesian Fire, Galawi(Ire),Holy Boss, Kobe’s Back, Mosler and Warrant. Proceeds of the auctions will support operations of the Maryland Horse Foundation, which was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. Link to the Auction: https://internethorseauctions.com/auction-tb.php?aucid=567 TheThoroughbredAuctions.com team produces North America’s Leading Online Auctions for Horses. The management team pioneered internet auction for horses and has produced 131 Online Auctions since 2012 boasting a high seller of $226,000. Their online auctions include the complete dispersal of RD Hubbard Thoroughbreds, which grossed over $1.5 million dollars with an average price of $28,895. Tim and Cathy are the industry’s most experienced show horse auction managers. Our team managed more than 380 live horse auctions selling over 80,000 horses since 1978. Tim’s previous firm, Professional Auction Services, was the largest show horse auction company in the world, by number of horses sold for 15 years. Visit ThoroughbredAuctions.com for more information, or email info@ThoroughbredAuctions.com. For more information on Maryland Horse Foundation visit MarylandHorse.com