The Horsemen’s Newsletter June 2018 Vol. 28 • Number 6 Groom Elite Program Begins With Hopes To Expand Workforce As part of its overall backstretch out- and experience. reach program, the MTHA for the first time During his almost 15 years di- will offer courses that are part of the highly recting the Animal Industries pro- regarded Groom Elite Program. gram at Louisiana Tech University, The most basic course, Basic Groom- McLellan launched an equine specialty ing 99, is scheduled for June 25-29 at Laurel program by which students were licensed Park. It will be followed at a later date by as trainers by the state racing commission the program’s primary course, Groom Elite and trained racehorses on a half-mile track 101. at the school. He has held other positions in The MTHA Board of Directors earlier the racing industry along with voluntarily this year signed off the plan to bring the leading Groom Elite in the early 2000s. Groom Elite Program to Maryland. Dr. Reid The introductory course is 16 hours McLellan visited Laurel to make a presen- devoted to preparing people for entry-lev- tation on how the educational program el jobs such as hot walker or groom and works, and at that time noted the courses are based on differing levels of knowledge Continues Page 2 MATCH Series Strikes With A Bang The widely acclaimed MATCH Series returned after 16 years with a On May 18, Breeze Easy’s Imprimis won the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf splash at Pimlico Race Course – in more ways than one – and the enthusi- Sprint (3-Year-Old and Up Sprint–Turf Division) in a field scratched down asm shown by the participants was a positive sign for the 25-race series that to five. J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Vertical Oak took the $100,000 Skipat spans four states. Stakes (3-Year-Old and Up Fillies and Mares Sprint–Dirt Division), which By the end of May, one stakes in each of five divisions had been run, also scratched down to five horses. and one of them – the Grade III, $100,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park “Everybody braved the weather and was enthusiastic,” Maryland Jockey May 26 – went to the Maryland-based Pennsylvania-bred Page McKenney, Club President Sal Sinatra said. “We’re glad to see the MATCH Series back, the popular 8-year-old gelding trained by Mary Eppler at Pimlico and owned and now we can build on that.” by Adam Staple and Jalin Stable. Continues page 3 Steady rain over the May 18-19 Preakness Stakes weekend proved a challenge as numerous races were switched from the turf to a dirt track rated sloppy on both days. The Preakness Day MATCH Series races – the Grade III, $150,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes and $100,000 The Very One Stakes – had fields of nine and eight, respectively. The Maryland Sprint (3-Year-Old and Up Sprint–Dirt Division), won by Woodford Racing’s Switzerland, generated more than $4 million in wager- ing, down a bit from last year but roughly double the handle in 2016. The Very One (3-Year-Old and Up Fillies and Mares Sprint–Turf Division), cap- tured by Brian Chenvert and Eddie Kenneally’s Girls Know Best, came off the grass with six scratches, but it handled more than $3.5 million, much higher than last year when it was run on the turf and comparable to 2016 when a field of 12 raced on the turf course. Impact Of Maryland’s Rec Report Golf Tournament Equine Industry More MTHA will be hosting a Golf Tour- nament on Monday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m at Compass Pointe Golf Course in Pasadena. Than $1.3 Billion It will be $65 dollars per person. Please contact Marty Leonard at 203-733-1367 if The Maryland equine industry contributes Maryland Jockey Club to judiciously expand rac- you are interested in playing. more than $1.3 billion to the state’s economy, ing opportunities, primarily at Laurel Park, and with more than half generated by horse racing pari-mutuel handle has increased substantially Pickup Softball Games and related businesses, according to the latest from four years ago. The MTHA also has worked Softball is currently be played on Tues- economic impact study commissioned by the with the Maryland State Fair to bolster the live day at 12:30 p.m. The field is located on Rt. American Horse Council. race meet at Timonium in the summer. 198 at the driving range directly across from A release disseminated by the Maryland “Maryland’s racing industry has continued the Laurel Park entrance. Horse Breeders Association notes that total em- to grow and make major strides at our facilities,” ployment in the state’s horse industry is more Maryland Jockey Club President Sal Sinatra said. Soccer than 21,000 jobs. Racing, both Thoroughbred “The support from spectators and horsemen Soccer will be starting this month, and Standardbred, produces $365 million in throughout the country has allowed us to con- please get your team rosters into Marty economic value and provides more than 5,200 tinue to grow and excel.” Leonard immediately. He can be reached at jobs for a total economic impact of $572 million, The economic impact study also states that (203) 733-1367 according to the study. Maryland continues to have the most horses per The report outlines three primary sectors of square mile – 10.5 – for a total of more than 101,000. Poker the horse industry: recreation, competition, and In addition, about 25 percent of land considered Poker has been moved to Wednesdays. racing. Other benefits that spin off from the horse agricultural – 750,000 acres – is devoted to horses. It will be played the first Wednesday of every industry are land preservation, volunteerism, There are at least 36 therapy operation fa- month starting at 12:30 p.m. in the Rec Room. equine therapy and rehoming operations, and cilities, 13 rescue and rehoming operations, and educational opportunities at academic institutions. more than 300 equine associations and several Free Day Trips “Horses are a part of Maryland’s history and academic institutions that educate, promote and The trip for Annapolis will be resched- heritage, but this study confirms the important contribute to Maryland’s economy, the study uled for September because of rain. The ex- contributions that the industry makes today to states. act day and time will be posted soon. Maryland’s economy and way of life,” MHBA Ex- Ross Peddicord, Executive Director of the The July 19 trip to St. Michaels is still on as ecutive Director Cricket Goodall said. “As a part Maryland Horse Industry Board, said the diver- planned. The van will be leaving the securi- of the agriculture community, horse farms are sity of the equine industry in the state is an as- ty gate at 10:45 a.m. and returning by 5 p.m. productive partners in protecting the environ- set. Call Dan Mangum at (410) 802-5798 for ment and educating young people.” “The study confirms the depth and breadth info and to sign up. Horse racing in Maryland has rebounded in of the equine industry,” Peddicord said. “We recent years as a result of a 10-year agreement have 35 different equestrian disciplines and 40 Baseball Tickets among stakeholders and a dedicated percentage breeds of horses with horse shows, rodeos and The winners for the Orioles Ticket of video lottery terminal revenue from the state’s thousands of folks, particularly youngsters, tak- Drawings were as follows: 6/13 vs. Boston: casinos. Breeding and racing have both experi- ing riding lessons and learning about and en- Ben Feliciano Jr.; 6/16 vs. Miami: Alfonso enced growth. joying horses. Both the racing and non-racing Griffith; 6/28 vs. Seattle: Dave Howard; The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s sectors complement each other in a very strong 6/30 vs. Angels: Jack Hull; 7/9 vs. Yankees: Association has worked in partnership with the and productive way.” Calvin Freeman; 7/13 vs. Rangers: P.J. Alva- nos; 7/23 vs. Boston: J.D. Brown. Next drawings at the Laurel Kitchen: Groom Elite, from page 1 Friday and Saturday, July 20 and July 21. doesn’t include certification. Groom Elite Program at Laurel. The effort involves grass- 101, the only nationally recognized groom roots outreach to college students who may certification program, is far more extensive be interested in learning about basic race- with 40 hours of education over several horse care and grooming during the sum- The Horsemen’s weeks in order to accommodate the sched- mer break. ules of students. Grove said the Groom Elite Program cur- Newsletter Basic Grooming 99 provides four days of riculum is set, so it comes down to market- Published by the hands-on instruction and one day for evalu- ing. The MTHA hopes it eventually helps ation and job-placement assistance. An im- increase the backstretch workforce. MTHA portant part of the program is assessing the “It’s a great program, and I think we can interest of each student to identify those who get some new people involved,” Grove said. 500 Redland Court – Suite 105, may seek future employment. “Our goal is to better all horsemanship skills Owings Mills, Maryland 21117; “The point is to get hot walkers to be- – that is what this program is intended to (410) 902-6842; Fax: (410) 902-6841; come entry-level grooms,” McLellan said. do. Horsemanship has suffered over the last E-mail: [email protected] Former Maryland-based trainer Chris two decades, and this program can help turn Website: www.mdhorsemen.com Grove is helping coordinate the Groom Elite the tide.” MATCH Series, from page 1 rel Dash, $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash and and Linda Davis, earned 10 points for his victory.