The Maryland Horse Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center Capital Campaign. Located in the heart of historic Reisterstown in the Maryland Horse Breeders Association's building at 321 Main Street, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will honor the history of horses in Maryland and serve as a hub for learning and collaboration. The breadth and depth of the Maryland horse industry will be represented by a robust collection of reference books in a warm and welcoming venue available for public use. While this facility will include an expansive collection of books and reference materials, it will be more than a library, as the unique space is intended to foster and promote education, community ties and passion to ensure the longevity of the Maryland horse industry. “The Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will allow us to honor the past, educate in the present and promote the future [of Maryland’s horse industry],” said Capital Campaign co-chair and Maryland Horse Breeders Association Vice President, Richard F. Blue, Jr. In addition to the reference library, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will include a memorabilia area, versatile meeting space, interactive kiosks and rotating exhibits. Visitors will learn about Maryland’s champion horses and riders and engage with all facets of the state’s diverse equine industry, while educational programs will engage a wide audience of equine-inclined youth, the general public and lifelong industry participants. “The way [into the horse industry] is through learning, so that’s the most exciting aspect of this project,” said Josh Pons, co-chair of the Capital Campaign and president of the Maryland Horse Foundation. “There’s someone out there who has a passion for the game but just doesn’t know how to get started, and we could be that gateway for people, the portal where people come through the door in Reisterstown and go ‘wow, I met someone really interesting doing research in that library.’” While paying tribute to and preserving the rich history of Maryland’s horse industry, the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center will also serve as a center for visitors to document history by providing technology to record oral stories, scan photos and digitize historic footage. “We’re including all aspects of the industry - horse sports, horse activities - in what we do here and offering that to people who want to come learn,” said Cricket Goodall, executive director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. “That’s the full circle from the founding of Maryland Horse Breeders Association in 1929, and the Maryland Horse Foundation has allowed us to amplify the focus on education.” The goal of the capital campaign is to raise $1 million that will be used to update 3,500 square feet of space in the historic building, purchase furnishings, integrate current audio/visual technologies and support ongoing operational costs. Support has been robust to date, with $100,000 in commitments already confirmed. The completion of this project relies on broad support from the Maryland horse community. The Maryland Horse Foundation was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. The Maryland Horse Foundation supports a number of programs and is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center. Since 1929, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association has been the leading horse industry advocate within the state of Maryland. The main purposes of the MHBA have always been to encourage, educate, promote, protect, and improve the horse breeding industry in Maryland. While emphasis traditionally has been placed on the production of Thoroughbred racehorses, the MHBA encourages all interests that include horses. Learn more about the various ways you can support the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center Capital Campaign here Contact: Cricket Goodall at (410) 252-2100 ext. 111

Though we could not be in-person in Annapolis for Maryland Horse Industry Day this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are proud that Marylanders are able to benefit from the diverse community that horses provide. Horses offer access to a healthy lifestyle, with lots of fresh air and exercise, and for many much needed emotional and therapeutic support. Thanks to your ongoing support, significant horse industry projects are well underway such as: Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill New MD Horse Library & Education Center Rebirth of Laurel/Pimlico racetracks Notable increase in licensed riding facilities  Please enjoy these photos from the Maryland Horse Industry! THANK YOU! Maryland Horse Breeders Association - Maryland Horse Council Maryland Horse Industry Board - Maryland Jockey Club - Maryland Million Ltd. - Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association - Maryland State Fair - Maryland 5 Star - Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation - Maryland Equine Transition Service - Fair Hill Foundation - Maryland Steeplechase Association - Ocean Downs Racetrack - Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association - Rosecroft Raceway - Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners’ Association - Fasig-Tipton Co. *Maryland Horse Industry Day 2021 photo credit and descriptions: Identified from left to right, row by row Fasig-Tipton at the Maryland State Fair - ©Lydia Williams Rendering of Maryland Horse Library and Educational Center Onearmedbandit with a colt by Northview's Golden Lad at No Guts No Glory Farm - ©Gina Robb  Fair Hill in Elkton, Md. - Home of the Maryland 5 Star Knicks Go wins the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes-G1 - ©Derbe Glass Hope's Legacy - a feature film by DBM Films, filming in Maryland at farms such as GreenMount Farm, Full Moon Farm and Fairwinds Farm and Stable with local talent Moscato, The Eclipse Award Champion Steeplechaser - ©Tod Marks Coexist Stables - A Horse Discovery Center, two students having fun in a lesson - ©James Hillman Greenwell Foundation - A Horse Discovery Center, a trail ride from Greenwell - ©Jolanda Campbell Nick Jackson - 2020 Junior World Finals Bull Riding Championship - ©William Olfus Rendering of future Pimlico -  Maryland Stadium Authority  Rosecoft Raceway - Yall Beneath Me - ©Best Bets Full Moon Farm - Young rider wins all the blues - ©Marisa Evans Maryland State Vet Dr. Odian's Team of Percheron Mares - ©Anne Litz The Maryland Horse Trials at Loch May Farm - ©Carolyn Mackintosh Swiss Skydiver wins the 2020 Preakness-G1 - ©Lydia Williams Fox Hunting Club in Maryland- ©Karen Kandra Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding - A Horse Discovery Center, Parts of the Horse - ©Cathy Schmidt Windy Way Horses - A Horse Discovery Center with a student competing in Western Dressage - ©Annie Trice Sara Hassler, Touch of Class award winner - ©Susan Stickle

Watch the official announcement HERE ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 29, 2020) – Today Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed October as Maryland Horse Month, recognizing the abundant historic, recreational, therapeutic, and economic contributions made by the state’s horse industry. Additionally, 2020 will be the first year that all of Maryland’s premiere equestrian sporting events, including the Preakness Stakes, are held in the same month due to scheduling changes in response to COVID-19. “Maryland has historically led the nation in creating and growing innovative equestrian-related programs, from forming the first sporting organization in the colonies, the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743, to hosting the Maryland 5 Star, one of only seven events of this kind in the world,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland Horse Month will showcase the depth and breadth of the industry’s impact on our history, heritage, and culture.” In support of the Governor’s proclamation, the Maryland Horse Industry Board will lead a targeted marketing strategy to highlight state-wide attractions, events, activities, trails, exhibits, and experiences with an equestrian connection. The Maryland Horse Foundation’s website, MarylandHorse.com, has been enhanced to host live streaming broadcasts, educational content, career exploration series, and behind the scenes videos with plans to expand the selection of activities and experiences in the future. “Like many of Maryland’s other businesses in 2020, our industry has had to be nimble in unprecedented ways, including rescheduling major equestrian events,” said Ross Peddicord, executive director of Horse Industry Board, a part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. “Preakness Stakes will be run for the first time in its 145-year history in October instead of May, joining other key equestrian events to be held during the month including the Jim McKay Maryland Million race at Laurel and the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill.” These events will be held without spectators, and individual event organizers will present robust virtual experiences to whet the appetite for the 2021 competitions. The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism has joined the Horse Industry Board and the Board’s many private-sector equestrian organizations to promote Maryland Horse Month. “These major equestrian events typically bring in thousands of tourists, as do our world-class destinations such as Assateague Island National Seashore, home to several bands of wild horses,” said Liz Fitzsimmons, managing director of the Maryland Office of Tourism. “Expanding the general public’s knowledge of Maryland’s idyllic horse country, whether it be through driving the Horses & Hounds Scenic Byway, exploring regional historic trails, learning about an historic breeding farm established in the 1740s, or engaging in outdoor activities such as horseback riding, is what we do best. During this inaugural Maryland Horse Month, we will unveil three Maryland Equestrian Travel Collections on our VisitMaryland website.” The American Horse Council has ranked Maryland as #1 in the nation in horses per square mile. In addition to tourism attractions, there are 38 friendly and knowledgeable Maryland Horse Discovery Centers located in 18 counties that include licensed stables, therapeutic riding program providers, and state-of-the-art equestrian centers. All provide the perfect introduction to various segments of the industry. Follow Maryland Horse Month on social media and use #MDHorse, #MDHorseMonth, #VisitMaryland, and #MDinFocus when posting about your tour of Maryland’s Equestrian Travel Collection. For the individual events, add #Maryland5Star, #Makeit5Star, #VirtualMD5Star, #MDMillion, #Preakness, #Preakness145, #BlackEyedSusan, and #JewelToRemember. For additional travel information go to www.visitmaryland.org. To view a copy of the Maryland Horse Month proclamation, please click here. About the Maryland Horse Industry Board The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) is a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Established in 1998, the MHIB helps develop and promote the state’s horse industry. The MHIB also advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting the industry and serves as the licensing body for Maryland stables and horse facilities. About Maryland Tourism The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency within the Maryland Department of Commerce. Visitors to the state spent $18.6 billion on travel-related expenses in 2019. The Maryland tourism industry also generated $2.6 billion in state and local taxes essentially saving Maryland households $1,175 in annual taxes. The industry provided Marylanders with 150,000 jobs. For more information, go to www.visitmaryland.org

Presented by the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association, Fair Hill Foundation, Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation, Maryland Equine Transition Services (METS), Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Horse Council, Maryland Horse Industry Board, Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland Million Ltd., Maryland State Fair, Maryland Standardbred Breeders, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Ocean Downs, Rosecroft Raceway and The Equiery. All equine-interested individuals are invited to attend. No advocacy experience required! We'll convene in the morning to prep for legislative meetings, then meet in small groups with legislators. When legislators are in session, we'll hear presentations and engage in discussions and Q&A with industry members, legislative staffers and special guests. We'll then enjoy boxed lunches with legislators. LOCATION MILLER SENATE OFFICE 11 BLADEN STREET ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 Tentative Schedule 7:30-8am: Registration, coffee & snacks 8-10am: Meetings with legislators (pre-scheduled, and drop-ins) 10-11: 30 am: Advocacy 101; panel discussions and award presentations 11:30-1pm: Lunch with legislators & salutations We will help you know how to navigate Annapolis and you will make an impact! Once you RSVP you'll be invited to a preview calls TBA Please note: you can register even if you can't be there for the entire schedule, but please indicate your availability as we will be booking legislator meetings around RSVPs. Please RSVP Here!  

  ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 23, 2016) – Today, the Maryland horse industry partners announced that they have commissioned an economic impact study on the industry’s fiscal contributions to Maryland, the first of this scale since 2005. The study will be conducted by Sage Policy Group, and the results will be unveiled in conjunction with the Jim McKay Maryland Million Day in October of this year. “As a $1.6 billion dollar industry, the Maryland horse industry is a vital part of our state’s economy and way of life, and all of its participants, from veterinarians and horse owners to racetracks and hospitality vendors, appreciate the Administration and Legislature’s efforts to revitalize the industry, particularly in the past several years,” said Dr. Kathleen Anderson, President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Owner of Equine Veterinary Care at Fair Hill Training Center. “We are uniquely fortunate to have so many supporters in our state government and throughout Maryland, and that is what sets Maryland’s horse industry apart from other states,” she continued. Fair Hill Training Center in Cecil County, one of the premier Thoroughbred training facilities in the United States, is a 5,656 acre Natural Resources Management Area owned by the State of Maryland. For the second year in a row, the Governor proclaimed the day as Maryland Horse Industry Day. The proclamation states, “The Maryland Horse Industry employs nearly 28,000 Marylanders, accounts for $512 million in sales annually, $72 million in taxes collected and includes 587,000 acres of our beautiful State…Maryland is pleased to commend the Maryland Equine Industry for its contributions to the economic health of our great State.” The Lieutenant Governor attended the day’s Kick-Off to present the proclamation to James B. Steele, Chairman of the Maryland Horse Industry Board and to Cricket Goodall, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association. In appreciation of Maryland’s commitment to the prosperity of the equine industry, Maryland-based artist Sam Robinson presented a gift of art to the State of Maryland, accepted by Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford at the Kick-Off. The framed art was a painting titled “Autumn Afternoon,” a beautiful horse farm scene. Senator J.B. Jennings (R-7), Senator Joan Carter Conway (D-43), and Secretary Mark Belton of the Department of Natural Resources spoke to the importance of the horse industry to Maryland’s economy, culture, and environmental preservation. Delegate Seth Howard (R-30B), sponsor of HB660 to establish an annual Equestrian Day, described how the legislation would recognize Maryland’s time-honored equestrian and horse racing traditions. HB660 would designate the final race of the Triple Crown as Equestrian Day in Maryland. The day also included a kick-off and issue briefing, reception, and constituent meetings with over 25 legislators. Hundreds of Marylanders from around the state came to the State’s Capitol to advocate for the industry. Earlier in the day, Ross Peddicord, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, commented, “We need to continually remind legislators and our fellow citizens of the strength of our industry and its positive impact on our state, from the wild ponies at Assateague to trail riding stables in Garrett County to events like the Preakness, Maryland Million, Maryland Hunt Cup, Fair Hill International, and Capital Challenge Horse Show.” “Although we all have our special disciplines, we are united in promoting the major benefits that horses provide to improve people's lives and to enrich our state's cultural and economic landscape," he added.   About the Maryland Horse Industry Partners The Maryland horse industry partners are a coordinated voice of individuals and businesses throughout the state involved in Thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing and breeding, trail riding, steeplechase, sport horse competitions, rodeo, carriage driving, therapy programs, recreation and other equestrian industries. They represent over 200 equine organizations and 35 different equestrian disciplines. Their mission is to educate public officials as well as citizens about the importance of the horse industry – in jobs, economic impact, open space, animal welfare and preservation of long-standing cultural traditions. The 14 Horse Industry Day sponsors include: Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners' Association, Fasig-Tipton Co., Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Horse Council, Maryland Horse Industry Board, Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland Million Ltd., Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association, Maryland State Fair, Maryland Steeplechase Association, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Ocean Downs Racetrack, and Rosecroft Raceway. For more information visit www.marylandhorse.com.