NEWS &VIEWScontinued from page 6
that would preserve Maryland’s racing heritage and industry. I applaud the incredible work of all the parties in reaching a deal that retains racing industry jobs and preserves the future of racing in Maryland for years to come.” Meanwhile, here is what those with their boots on the ground (or boots in the stirrups, as the case may be) had to say: Maryland Jockey Club president Tom
Chuckas (from a MJC press release): “We cre- ated a plan that benefi ts everyone and develops a sustainable model for the future. I would like to thank Governor Martin O’Malley for his continued support of the industry. We appre- ciate his involvement two years ago which set up the framework for this deal. We appreciate Maryland Racing Commissioners John Mc- Daniel and Bruce Quade for their commitment as well as the leadership from the MTHA and MBHA for working with us to make this hap- pen. [T e deal] allows the Maryland Jockey Club to invest in capital improvements at both facilities and we plan on submitting a plan to the Maryland Racing Commission and Mary- land Department of Budget and Management in February.” Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s As- sociation general counsel Alan Foreman (in a press release from the Governor’s offi ce): “T is is an historic moment for the Maryland rac- ing community and the dawn of a new era. T e years of uncertainty and strife are over. T e rac- ing industry owes a debt of gratitude to Tom Chuckas, Mike Rogers, Richard Hoff berger, Dale Capuano, Wayne Wright, Tom Bow- man, Bruce Quade and John McDaniel for their dedication and hard work over the past 11 months to bring this to fruition. Most impor- tantly, I want to thank Frank Stronach for his commitment to the future of Maryland racing and his willingness to work with us to fi nd con- structive solutions to our complicated issues. Since he assumed ownership of the Maryland tracks, Frank has sought a business model that would allow him to profi t here while preserv- ing and enhancing Maryland’s historic racing industry. In partnership with him, we can now achieve that goal. For our loyal horsemen and the thousands of workers throughout the state who have supported Maryland racing dur- ing the diffi cult past decade, we will now have long-term stability, year-round racing and sta- bling, an attractive purse structure, promise for the breeding industry and a strong foundation to restore Maryland racing to its preeminence in North American racing. For those who left Maryland for greener pastures, I think you will fi nd that Maryland will soon become the cen- terpiece of racing in the Mid-Atlantic.” Maryland Horse Breeders Association presi-
dent Tom Bowman (in a press release from the Governor’s offi ce): “It was an honor to be in- volved in this historic accomplishment. A spe- cial acknowledgement needs to be given to the 8 | THE EQUIERY | JANUARY 2013
Maryland Racing Commission for providing both the impetus and guidance to see this pro- cess completed. Hats off to everyone involved.” Maryland Horse Breeders Association execu-
tive director Cricket Goodall (to T e Baltimore Sun): “T ere was a lot of concern when we just had year-to-year deals. We’ve been working to- ward revitalizing the industry since slot money start moving. We want to encourage people to come back and do their business here.” And last but certainly not least, Tim Capps, former Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association,
former vice
president of the Maryland Jockey Club and currently the director of the Equine Industry Program at the University of Louisville and popular pundit on the Maryland industry (to T e Baltimore Sun): “T e industry’s success in Maryland will depend on whether stakehold- ers can remain ‘friendly and harmonious’ and live up to their promises. I am glad to see them come to an agreement, and I hope that it’s last- ing. Right now, it’s a good thing, because it cre- ates the notion of stability. T e question for the long term is, how is the health of the racetracks themselves; can they get back into a much more reasonable fi nancial situation where they can be sustainable for the long term? [With a ten-year agreement] there is a window now for the in- dustry to work with.” To read more, visit
equiery.com and click on “Finally! A Happy Christmas for Racing”
Horses Exonerated! WSSC Trail Use Study Released On November 19, 2012 the Washington
Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) released a long-anticipated report by EA Engi- neering, Science and Technology, who studied the eff ect that equestrians and other users have on the reservoirs and the lands surrounding the reservoirs. T e study was commissioned by the WSSC, at the request of horse people and legislators, after winter trail riding had been banned for ostensibly causing erosion. Established in 1918, today WSSC is one of the largest water and wastewater utilities in the nation, with a network of nearly 5,600 miles of fresh water pipeline and more than 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. T ey serve 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties; WSSC drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards. T e WSSC owns and maintains the pipelines, and owns and operates three reservoirs (Tria- delphia, Rocky Gorge and Little Seneca) with a total holding capacity of 14 billion gallons, 2 water fi ltration plants, and 7 wastewater treat- ment plants. T e land surrounding the reservoir serves as a natural fi lter for the watershed, and a happy byproduct of the watershed maintenance has been its availability for recreational users, in- cluding equestrians (specifi cally Rocky Gorge
and Triadelphia). As reported in T e Equiery, in 2011, WSSC was convinced that horses were causing signifi - cant trail erosion which, when combined with manure, was aff ecting the water quality of the reservoir, so they relocated horses off the bridle trails and onto the fi rebreaks and emergency access roads, while closing the land completely to equestrians during the winter. Upon learning of WSSC’s actions, Trail Rid-
ers of Today immediately swung into action, heavily lobbying WSSC to conduct a legiti- mate study before fi nalizing any policy, rather than relying on hearsay and amateur observa- tions. TROT also provided testimony from the Maryland Department of the Environment, which, according to Barbara Sollner-Webb, had recognized the eff orts of equestrians for diverting over 10,000 cubic yards of sediment from entering the reservoir and for providing environmental help, such as recently initiat- ing eff orts to reopen blocked culverts under WSSC’s Access Road. T e trail riders were also successful in helping to secure a $30,000 grant to reroute the few inadequate trail sections. WSSC listened, and then engaged EA Engi- neering, Science & Technology.
“T e Report” says…horsepeople are right! by Barbara Sollner-Webb According to the report released on Novem- ber 19, 2012, EA Engineering determined that it’s not the horses causing the erosion. Accord- ing to the report, the access roads are “the dom- inant source of sediments and associated run- off contaminants originating within WSSC buff er property… with extremely steep slopes with substantial gullies and washed out areas where our Study Team’s 4-wheel drive trucks could not navigate…[and is in] very poor alignment”, “straight up and down hill sides” …[with]“unmaintained sections not suitable for… horseback riding…[and] potentially dan- gerous for horses” (page 6-2 to 6-4). T e reports also states that the portion of the equestrian trails that they carefully assessed (those trails that we were now forbidden to use) are “well aligned with the natural topography, has gentle slopes, and was determined to be in excellent condition for use by horses…[with] little evidence of erosion [even at the] stream crossings…an excellent horseback riding trail.” EA subsequently traversed another portion and found only a few sites of “localized ero- sion”, but they evidently were not aware of the portion that was dedicated by WSSC’s Richard Hocevar (for whom their building is named). T e report additionally verifi es equestrians’ as- sertions that most of the access points (which WSSC has mandated that equestrians must use to enter the trails) are unsuitable (Appendix B). Pleasingly, it recommends also allowing horse- back riding on portions of the Tridelphia Ac- continued on page 10
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