Maryland Horse® September 2019 Official publication of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association; Vol. 84, No. 9 Glorious history in Women of the Turf exhibit By Maryanna Skowronski MARYLAND HORSE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION INC. at Goucher College 1021 Dulaney Valley Road Baltimore, MD 21204 P.O. Box 427 Celebrating the contri- Timonium, MD 21094 butions of women in equine 410-252-2100 www.marylandthoroughbred.com sports, the Hays-Heighe House will launch an exhibit BOARD OF DIRECTORS titled “Women of the Turf” the Michael Harrison DVM evening of Oct. 4, and honor President renowned local photogra- David Wade phers Lydia A. Williams and 1 Vice-president Catherine “Cappy” Jackson Kent Allen Murray with the Robert and Anne Secretary-treasurer Heighe Award for Excellence Cricket Goodall Executive director in Equestrian Journalism. The festivities will take place at Richard F. Blue Jr., Brooke Harford Community College Bowman DVM, Richard in Bel Air in the 1800s stone Douglas Lees Barrie Reightler Hackerman*, Christy Holden, manor house once home to Cappy Jackson (left) and Lydia Williams will be Michael Horning, TK Kuegler, native Baltimorean Anne honored in October with the Robert and Anne Heighe Louis Merryman, Sabrina Award for Excellence in Equestrian Journalism. Moore, D. David Moose, Larry McElderry Heighe. Murray, William Reightler, Presented every two years The awards and exhibi- Elizabeth II and Anne, Prin- Thomas Rooney*, James B. by the Hays-Heighe House tion are particularly appro- cess Royal, to owner Marga- Steele, Theresa Wiseman committee, the equestrian priate to the venue, which ret McManus. This is the first *president appointed journalism award honors the once was Prospect Hill Farm, project to focus solely on the Directors Emeritus school’s campus history as owned and operated for some lives and careers of female (served 18 years) a Thoroughbred racing and 30 years by Anne Heighe. A owners, breeders, riders, J. William Boniface, breeding farm. Williams and vice-president of the Mary- trainers, journalists and oth- R. Thomas Bowman, King T. Jackson join an illustrious land Horse Breeders Associa- ers connected to flat and jump Leatherbury, Donald P. Litz group of men honored the tion in the 1950s, Heighe also racing. Jr., Robert T. Manfuso, Ann past decade – writers Joseph raced horses, her green and Displays in the “Women of Merryman, Michael Pons, B. Kelly, Humphrey S. Finney white silks seen at tracks up the Turf” exhibit are inspired Katharine M. Voss and William Boniface, sports- and down the East Coast. by the National Museum of Advisory Council caster Jim McKay and racing Now a cultural arts center, Racing’s Pillars of the Turf (past MHBA presidents) cartoonist Peb (Pierre Bellocq). Hays-Heighe House exhib- and will honor such pioneers J. William Boniface, This year’s honorees have its have regularly showcased as Alaire duPont, Marylou William K. Boniface, Frank A. Bonsal, R. Thomas Bowman, had award-winning careers notables connected to equine Whitney, Isabel Dodge Sloane, William G. Christmas, Hal in the field of film and digital sport, with Finney, McKay, Elizabeth Arden, Elizabeth C.B. Clagett III, Kimball C. photography, capturing stee- Peb and African-American Dangerfield and others. Firestone, King T. Leatherbury, plechase, flat racing and other jockey Isaac Murphy among Legendary local Maryland J.W.Y. Martin Jr., Joseph P. equestrian sports for a variety those honored. and Pennsylvania women in Pons Jr., Michael Pons, James of publications, including The In past exhibits, women the industry, past and present, B. Steele Jr., Katharine M. Maryland Horse and Mid-At- have been mentioned or fea- are also featured, including Voss, Robert B. White lantic Thoroughbred. tured in part, from Queen Mildred “Babe” Saportas, Sara Secor, Elizabeth “Betty” Bird Farm and Ellen Blackwell The Hays-Heighe House and Betty Shea Miller. Pons of Country Life Farm. will continue the exhibit Women have held a wide Steeplechase jockey Bethany theme with events from Oc- variety of jobs in the sport, Baumgardner, HCC associ- tober to early December, in- and the exhibit will showcase ate vice-president for student cluding literary discussions, their leadership in those roles. development and amateur a history of Pimlico presented Also explored is the relation- horsewoman Jennie Towner, by Karin De Francis, a presen- ship between women and Maryland Horse Breeders As- tation about early female jock- horses as the subject of fiction- sociation executive director eys with Eliza McGraw and a al works in literature and film Cricket Goodall and Mid-At- panel discussion of “Women the past nine decades. lantic Thoroughbred associate in Non-Traditional Careers.” Presentation of the Robert editor Cindy Deubler have Tickets for the exhibit’s and Anne Heighe Award will also served on the planning opening night are $50 per per- be held during the opening committee. The exhibit is be- son and include heavy hors night reception. Kathy Kus- ing curated by Maryanna d’oeuvres and beer and wine. ner, former U.S. Equestrian Skowronski, executive direc- Tickets can be purchased on- Team member and Olympian tor of the Historical Society of line; sales close Oct. 3. Pro- who became the first female Harford County and freelance ceeds benefit the Hays-Heighe granted a jockey’s license, is Anne Heighe was one of the journalist in the field of eques- House, and a portion of each the scheduled guest of honor. state’s leading breeders. trian sports. The Maryland ticket price is tax-deductible. Kusner rode her first race 50 Jockey Club, Maryland Horse Visit www.harford.edu or years ago. includes Audrey Murray of Breeders Association, Jim contact 443-412-2539 or email The event’s honorary Murmur Farm, Martha Hop- McKay Maryland Million Day [email protected] for committee features several kins of Elberton Hill Farm, and Mediawise will sponsor more information. R Maryland horsewomen and Mimi Voss of Atlanta Hall the exhibit and event. Maryland Horse Forum a think-tank for the state’s equine industry By Tom LaMarra 2 The fourth Maryland to it in Baltimore County. In Horse Forum and the input the years ahead we will con- it produced was a reflection tinue to be an advocate for this of changes in the landscape storied industry.” for the horse industry – both Topics for the 12 breakout in state and nationally – cou- sessions were selected based pled with a desire to maintain on hundreds of surveys that a strong history and tradition. were prepared by the MHIB. The Horse Forum, a prod- Many of the sessions were uct of the Maryland Horse In- geared toward equine health dustry Board, previously was and welfare, educating the held in 2004, 2009 and 2014. public on the value of the This year’s event, held Aug. 8 horse industry, and future at Goucher College in Towson, legislation that could impact attracted hundreds of people equine activities in Maryland. with a stake or interest in the Participants in each break- equine industry across all dis- out session were split into ciplines and platforms. groups that prepared re- Though state officials and sponses to specific questions legislators attended to either or offered suggestions on vari- speak or observe, the objective ous issues. Each group then of the Horse Forum is to solicit had a chance to present them input and hear concerns from land Horse Industry Board timore County Executive John to all in attendance for each industry participants and the and a member of the Mary- Olszewski Jr., who previously session. public. Each of the 12 break- land Horse Breeders Associa- served in the Maryland House On the subject of percep- out sessions was conducted by tion’s Board of Directors, said of Delegates. “Thanks for all tion of the horse industry by a professional moderator, and in opening remarks. “What you do to promote the horse the general public, the follow- the results will be compiled in you say goes. This will be a industry in Maryland. I spent ing observations were made: an official report that will be blueprint on things you think time in the legislature and I Horses are well cared for, but given to the industry, legisla- need to be done.” can tell you that work matters. non-participants may not re- ture and Gov. Larry Hogan. “I’d like to thank the Mary- “The horse industry has a alize it given negative cover- “This is your forum,” Jim land Horse Industry Board for major impact statewide but age; and the industry must Steele, chairman of the Mary- choosing to be here,” said Bal- we’re proud of our connection not allow others with agendas to speak for it and control the On the racing side, protec- its “Touch of Class Award” ing to the infield for winner’s message. Solutions focused on tion of the industry’s share of to Kaymarie Kreidel, a for- circle festivities. improving communication, video lottery terminal reve- mer jockey and outrider at Kreidel was lauded for both internally and externally, nue for purses and breed de- the Maryland Jockey Club showcasing great horseman- and “bringing horses to the velopment has high priority, tracks. Kreidel and her horse, ship. She credited the horses. people” to expand the horse as does ensuring racetracks Witch Hunter, corralled a “I would not be the outrid- industry’s reach. and off-track betting facilities loose Bode xpress after he un- er I am without the wonderful Concerning legislation, are included in sports betting seated John Velazquez at the horses I sit on,” she said. “I do there was a laundry list of should the General Assembly start of the Preakness Stakes, everything I can to promote suggestions ranging from tax address it in 2020. ran around the track with the horse racing.