Minutes of Public Meeting - June 28, 2018

In accordance with the Notice of Public Meeting, as required by §3-302, General Provisions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Racing Commission (“Commission”) met in open session on June 28, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. at Laurel Park, Laurel, Maryland, 20725. Chairman Mike Algeo welcomed the public to the meeting and thanked Cricket Goodall for the hat from Ireland.

Minutes – May 22, 2018.

The Commission waived a reading of the minutes of its meeting of May 22, 2018 and voted to approve them.

Maryland State Fair.

J. Michael Hopkins, Executive Director of the Commission, informed the Commission that he had received a request from the State Fair for types of wagers they would offer their patrons during the August race meet. Mr. Hopkins further commented that the types of wagers were consistent with the wagers being offered by the Maryland Jockey Club. Hearing no objection the Commission unanimously approved the request.

Maryland Jockey Club – Stronach 5 Wager.

The Commission was asked to approve a request from the Maryland Jockey Club to offer and host the Stronach 5 Wager which would include races from Laurel, Santa Anita and Gulfstream. It would be offered with a 12% takeout rate and be sold at 50 cent increments. Regulations are in place that would allow this wager. Commissioner Hayden asked if the races were all stakes or other races. The wager would be made up of a mixture of races. Hearing no objection, the Commission unanimously approved the request.

Regulation – Final – 09.10.02.43; .53; .53-1; .60; and .61.

The Commission was informed that the previously proposed regulations 09.10.02.43, .53 and.53-1 that were amended to permit the submission of electronic documents had been published for the required number of days and have not received any public comment. The Commission was also informed that the proposed regulations 09.10.02.60 and .61 giving the standardbred industry the authority to offer the Ocean High 5 and Survivor bet wagers had also been published for the required number of days without any public comment. Noting that the public comment time was expired the Commission was asked to adopt the proposed regulations as final. Hearing no objection the Commission unanimously approved the regulations for final adoption.

Regulation – Proposed 09.10.01.17, .28 and .88.

The Commission was provided with proposed regulations that had been approved by the Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The proposed regulations would eliminate a requirement that only certain types of horse shoes would be allowed to be used during a turf race, increase from 5 days to up to 10 days that a horse would not be allowed to run out of state and require any horse scratched from a race may be subject to the 10 day penalty. The proposed regulation would also allow horses that would normally be coupled be uncoupled and entered as separate betting interests at the discretion of the trainer at entry time and eliminate a required refund of wagers when a race is moved from the turf to the dirt after wagering has closed for that particular wager. Hearing no objection the Commission unanimously approved the regulations as proposed.

Maryland Bred Race Fund Advisory Committee Member.

J. Michael Hopkins, Executive Director of the Commission, advised the Commission that the Maryland Horse Breeders had made a recommendation that Michael Harrison and Larry Murray be approved as their representative on the Maryland Bred Race Fund Advisory Committee. Hearing no objection the Commission unanimously approved the recommendation.

Maryland Bred Race Fund Review.

The Commission was reminded that during the April 2018 Commission the issue of reviewing the bonus structure being paid out by the Maryland Bred Race Fund in 2018 had a structural deficit and that the parties, (Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland Thoroughbred Horseman and Maryland Horse Breeders) would be meeting to resolve the deficit. The Commission was informed by Commissioner Hayden that the parties had come to an agreement for the balance of 2018, 2019 and 2020. The agreement would reduce the Maryland Bred restricted allowance races by $500,000. 00; bonuses paid on all open and restricted stakes would be reduced from 30% to 15%; stallion bonuses would be reduced from 10% to 5% on all open and restricted stakes; Maryland sired maiden bonus would be eliminated and a committee would be formed to review the bonus program no less than every six months to monitor the expense and revenue.

Public Comments.

Alan Forman commented that since the Maryland Bred Race Fund had representation from all the parties except the Horsemen’s organization he believed they should have some representation non the Fund since they were all collectively involved. Chairman Algeo thanked Mr. Forman and commented that the creation of a seat on the board would require a legislative change. However, the Chair suggested that it would be possible for the horsemen to have a non-voting seat on the fund.

Gerry Brewster representing the Maryland State Fair commented that they were in the process of remodeling the paddock with some private funding and that all the college scholarships that were offered have been funded and given out. Chairman Algeo commented that he had been in touch with the Governor’s office encouraging him to attend the State Fair on College day, August 25, 2018 when they would be giving away the 9 scholarships.

Next Commission Meeting.

The next Commission Meeting will be held on September 20, 2018 at 12:30 P.M. at the Great Frederick Fair, Frederick, Maryland.

J. Michael Hopkins
Executive Director