NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use We did it! You did it!


by Jane Seiglar, MHC Legislative Chair T e Horse Council’s bill to prohibit “Crimes Against Animals – Interference With Equines” (HB 171), has crossed the fi nish line in Annap- olis, and is headed to Governor Larry Hogan’s desk for signature. T is law will punish anyone who willfully and maliciously interferes with, in- jures, destroys, or tampers with an equine used for any lawful activity. Such acts are punishable by a fi ne of up to $1000 and up to one year in jail. T is was a remarkable achievement, because


many bills do not succeed in passage the fi rst year they are introduced (it takes several “tries” in suc- cessive years), and this year presented a unique hurdle because the Corona- virus outbreak has caused the legislature to adjourn almost three weeks early. T e Horse Council wants


to give huge thanks to Dr. Michele Guyton, MD State House of Delegates Dis- trict 42B for sponsoring the bill, as well as her excellent staff who worked diligently and tirelessly to support and shepherd us through the process every step of the way. T anks also to Delegate Heather Bagnall, Delegate Regina T. Boyce, Delegate Jason Buckel, Del- egate


Kevin Hornberger,


Delegate Mary Lehman, Delegate Jazz Lewis, Del- egate Ric Metzgar, Delegate Matt Morgan, Delegate Pat Young, Delegate Jon Cardin, Delegate Dan Cox, Delegate Su- san K. McComas and Delegate Jesse Pippy for co-sponsoring the bill. Additional thanks to Senator Michael Hough and Senator Katie Fry Hester, Maryland Senate D9, who sponsored companion (i.e. ”cross-fi led”) bills in the Sen- ate, which helped ensure that one of the ver- sions would make it all the way through the process. Finally, thanks to Claire Lacey of My Lady’s Manor Driving Club, and Christine Hajek of Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue, for taking time out of their busy days to trek to Annapo- lis and testify in support of the bill, and to the Lambert family of Frederick, for submitting


Maryland Hunt Cup’s newest Challenge Cup


written support. T anks also to the Maryland Farm Bureau for its support. T e Maryland Horse Council continues to work hard for you, your farms and all our horses!


A New Challenge Cup Although the 2020 Maryland Hunt Cup


has been canceled due to various COVID-19 restrictions… there is a new Challenge Cup ready to go! T e Hunt Cup’s fi rst secretary Ross Winans


Whistler donated the fi rst Challenge Cup when he retired from his position on the board. T e Challenge Cup is presented to the owner who wins the race three times. Mrs. E. Beard’s Blockade retired the fi rst Challenge Cup with wins in 1938, 1939 and 1940. Between the years of 1940 and 1983, fi ve more own- ers earned Challenge Cup honors: Stuart S. Janney Jr. (Winton), Mrs W. J. Cloth- ier (Pine Pep), Mrs. M.C. Stephenson ( Jay Trump), Redmond C. Stewart Jr. (Haff aday and Ben Nevis II) and Mrs. Miles Valentine (Cancottage). It took another 36 years


before another owner claimed the Cup--that was Skip and Vicki Crawford in 2019 with Senior Sena- tor’s third Hunt Cup victory. While the Crawfords took home the Cup, a new Chal- lenge Cup was donated and


is being restored and prepared by Smyth Jewel- ers. “While my team of silversmiths could not identify the silver stamp on the new Challenge Cup, the trophy is sterling silver and beautifully made with Maryland traditional repousse,” said Smyth’s co-president Bob Smyth. “It was most likely made by an East Coast silversmith in the mid 1930s”


Pimlico & Laurel Bill Passed with Modifi cations


On March 18, the Racing and Community


Development Act of 2020, which authorizes fi - nancing for the rebuild of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, cleared the Maryland General


Assembly. As of press, the Bill (Senate Bill 987) was in Governor Hogan’s offi ce for consideration. T e legislation calls for the Maryland Sta-


dium Authority to issue up to $375 million in bonds for the project through funds from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account, the Purse Dedication Account, video lottery terminal payments to Baltimore City and money from the Maryland Lottery. Once signed by the Governor, the Act would take eff ect June 1. An agreement among members of the joint


conference committee in the fi nal days of the session resulted in the fi nal version of SB 987. T is year’s legislative session was cut short by several weeks due to the cornavirus (COV- ID-19) outbreak. According to the current building plan, the Laurel project will begin fi rst.


Sports Betting in Maryland? Also passed on March 18 by the Maryland


General Assembly, is a bill for sports betting. T e original bill contained more than 20 pages outlining implementation, eligible licensees, fees and tax rates, which were stripped from the fi nal version. T e Senate ended up passing an amend- ed House version of Senate Bill 4 that authoriz- es a constitutional amendment ballot question in the November 2020 general election. According to the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemens Association, disagreement over some of the details caused the Senate to opt to at least get the question on the ballot as soon as possible. T e next opportunity would have been 2022. As of press, legislative leaders plan to hold a special session in late May to wrap up loose ends and handle veto votes, but it is unknown if sports betting details will be part of the short session, if it is even held. At this time, the bill is waiting consideration by Governor Hogan.


Two Arrested in “Horse Rustling” Case On February 24, T omas Hickman and Kath-


erine Entsminger were arrested in Montgom- ery County on Sublette County (Wyoming) Warrants for horse rustling and theft. T e Sub- lette County Sheriff ’s Offi ce reached out to the Montgomery County Police Department in regards to tips that Hickman and Entsminger were in Maryland. Investigators say the theft dates back to 2017.


continued... IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE 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.


www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 APRIL 2020 | THE EQUIERY | 9


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52