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NEWS &VIEWS You Can Use Question 7: The Beat Goes On


Here at T e Equiery, we are still scratching our heads about Question 7, as we don’t understand how Maryland got from “we need to have slots casinos in order to ensure the viability of racing” to “we need table games in order to ensure the viability of casinos.” Something about all of this just does not make sense to us. However, apparently the majority of voting Marylanders thought this was a swell idea and voted in favor of Question 7, and the Maryland T or- oughbred Horsemen’s Association is very upbeat about what this will mean to racing. Interestingly, and ironically, the campaign against gambling expansion was led by the gambling company Penn National Gaming Inc., which spent $42 million to protect the company’s lucrative Charles Town, WV “racino” business. However, with the passage of Ques- tion 7, Penn National—which owns Rosecroft Raceway—does intend to submit a bid for a casino at Rosecroft, although it is expected that National Harbor will be the favored location. T e Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s As- sociation (which represents licensed fl at track trainers and backstretch workers) believes that the impact of expanded gambling on the Mary- land racing industry will be largely positive. According to the MTHA, “Currently, 7% of


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revenue generated from slots in Maryland (up to $100 million yearly) is directed toward horsemen and breeders. T at 7% is then divided between the T oroughbred and Standardbred industries on an 80/20 percentage basis. T e Maryland- bred Fund receives 11% of the T oroughbred share, and the remaining 89% goes to the T or- oughbred Purse Account. Under the new legis- lation, the 7% share would remain intact from fi ve casinos until a new Prince George’s County casino is operational; in that case, the percentage would decline to 6% but then be generated from six casino locations. T e $100 million yearly cap would remain intact. According to nonpartisan, independent analysis from the Department of Legislative Services (DLS), the Purse Dedica- tion Account should see a net positive increase


of more than $13 million over the next fi ve years and over $10 million annually once all sites are fully operational. T e passage of this legislation signals a big win for Maryland’s T oroughbred horsemen and breeders.”


‘Tis The Season


Considering making a donation to equine-related charities this


holiday season? For lists of equine charities, and tips for determining legitimate charities, please visit equiery.com!


ng sit


Other Maryland racing organizations have not issued simi- lar statements. Several casinos have already indicated that they in- tend to replace a num- ber of slot machines with table games, as the table games are taxed at a lower level (20%) than slot ma- chines (67%).


And the beat goes on. Meyer president of MTHA


Richard J. Meyer has been elected president of the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s Association, with Dale Capuano as vice presi- dent. T e election represents the fi rst major change of leadership since the organization’s inception in 1987, with Richard Hoff berger serving as the fi rst and only president from 1987 until now. Meyer has owned horses since the early 1980s and has been a Board member since 1989. Ac- cording to the October 2012 MTHA news- letter, as chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee Meyer has pioneered numerous programs that have improved the quality of life on the backstretch, including but not limited to the Backstretch Pension Plan, Health Center, Free Health Fairs, and year-round Recreation Program among other initiatives. Meyer also is a mem- ber of the Maryland State Fair Board and is the current Presi- dent of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Fund,


a charitable


group that provides fi nancial assistance to eligible employees actively working at Maryland racetracks


and/or thoroughbred farms. A career employee of the Defense Depart-


ment, Meyer is a 1981 graduate of the National Defense University. He graduated from St. Louis University and earned a Master’s Degree in technology and management from Central Michigan University. Hoff berger will apparently remain on the


Board, will continue to work on legislative issues, and will also continue his eff orts on MTHA’s Negotiating Committee, which is currently working on future racing dates and other matters relating to a long-term racing program with the Maryland Jockey Club. Also, after 37 years of service, the executive


secretary, Wayne W. Wright, offi cially retired. David Richardson, who has served the Board as Administrative Assistant since July 2011, will become the new executive secretary.


Keefe Named President of Mary- land Horsemen’s Assistance Fund


T oroughbred trainer Timothy L. Keefe is the


new president of the Maryland Horsemen’s As- sistance Fund, Inc. (MHAF). T is fund is a 501c 4 charitable organization established in 1947 to provide necessary fi nancial assistance to eligible employees actively working at Maryland race- tracks and/or T oroughbred farms. T e fund is supported by starting gate fees, fi nes levied by the stewards and by the Maryland Racing Com- mission, and private donations.


Hall of Famer Lana duPont Wright Lana duPont Wright will be inducted into


Lana duPont Wright will be inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame later this month.


the Eventing Hall of Fame this month during the U.S. Eventing Association annual conven- tion in Colorado. Wright broke the glass ceiling for women in eventing all over the world when she be- came the fi rst woman to compete on an Olympic team. She represented the U.S. on the 1964 team in Tokyo that won the silver team medal. She was also a founding member of the U. S. Combined Training Association, now USEA, and held the Middletown Pony Club Horse Trials for


continued on page 10


IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO Editor at The Equiery, P.O. Box 610, Lisbon, MD 21765 • FAX: 410-489-7828 • email editor@equiery.com.


Be sure to include your full name, phone number and address. All submissions become the property of The Equiery. 8 | THE EQUIERY | DECEMBER 2012 800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


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