NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use


Christmas Eve Fire at Fair Hill Training Center


At approximately 6:40 pm on Decem- ber 24, authorities were notifi ed of a barn fi re at the Fair Hill Training Cen- ter in Elkton. T e barn on fi re was Parlo II West, which is rented by trainer Mi- chael Matz and also houses an equine outpatient veterinary clinic owned and operated by Dr. Kathleen Anderson. According to the Maryland Offi ce of


the State Fire Marshal, the two-alarm blaze took around 50 fi refi ghters two hours to contain. It is estimated that there is roughly $850,000 worth of damage. All that remains of the struc- ture are the concrete walls. T e barn, which was built in 2005, was empty at the time and no people or horses were in- jured. Matz had already moved his training op- eration to Florida for the winter and Dr. An- derson had shut the clinic down around 4pm for the holiday weekend. T e State Fire Marshal also reported that fi re


What remains of Parlo II West at the Fair Hill Training Center the day after the fi re was put out.


careers over jumps and the people who breed, own and race them here,” said MHBA presi- dent Richie Blue, Jr. Steeplechase Owners and Trainers Associa-


alarms were present in the building but it is un- determined if they were activated by the blaze. In addition, the fi re report stated that the barn did not have a sprinkler system. Investigators have determined that the fi re


started within the interior of the clinic however the cause of the fi re has not been determined at this time.


New Award for Maryland Steeple- chase Horses


T e Maryland Horse Breeders Association


(MHBA) voted in January to begin an awards program for breeders and owners, and stallion bonuses for registered Maryland-bred horses, running in sanctioned steeplechase races in Maryland. MHBA will pay these bonus awards for those participants that qualify. Beginning this year, registered Maryland-bred horses that fi nish in the top three at a National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned race in Maryland will receive 30% on purses earned. T e fi ve meets in Maryland that qualify for the 2022 season are: My Lady’s Manor, Grand Na- tional, Maryland Hunt Cup, Fair Hill and the Legacy Chase at Shawan Downs. Bonuses will not apply to training fl at races. “We believe this program rewards those Maryland-bred horses that have successful


tion president Todd Wyatt, who trains in the Monkton area added that he could see owners and trainers start to seek out Maryland-breds in the future because of this new program. “If it comes down to selling a horse to someone who’s going to keep the horse in Maryland or someone who is going to take the horse some- where else, a breeder might consider selling to a steeplechase person,” he said. “And if you’re looking for a horse as a steeplechase prospect, you might start looking for Maryland-breds because of something like this.”


Steve Connelly Named Deputy Secretary of Ag


On January 18, the Maryland


Department of Agriculture an- nounced that Steve Connelly (Rising Sun) was named Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Con- nelly replaces Julie Oberg, who has moved into a new position with Calvert County Economic Development. Connelly has previously


I am very happy to announce his appointment as deputy secretary,” said Secretary Joe Barten- felder, adding, “His experience and commitment to the ag community will continue to be a strong asset to the Hogan-Rutherford administration.” As Deputy Secretary, Connelly will manage the


day-to-day operations of the agency, and help en- sure that its programs continue to serve, promote and regulate the State’s agriculture industry.


USEF Adopts New MAAPP Changes T e U.S. Center for SafeSport and Minor


Athletes Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) have been adopted into the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s policies as of January 1, 2022. Many USEF members will recognize “SafeS- port” as a training program that all members must participate in annually in order to retain active membership. T e new changes to the program include policies on social media con- tact, transportation and one-on-one interac- tions between minor athletes and adults. For a full list of policy changes, please visit


equiery.com and download the USEF’s MAAP Policies handbook.


T.I.P. Expands Championships T e Jockey Club T oroughbred Incentive


worked for MDA in various roles throughout his career, most recently serving as Assistant Secretary of Marketing, Animal Industries and Consumer Services. He is a University of Maryland grad- uate with degrees in Agriculture and Natural Resource Economics. “Steve Connelly has decades of experience working to advance Maryland agriculture, and


New Deputy Secretary of Ag- riculture Steve Connelly


Program (T.I.P.) announced on January 11 that it has approved more than 7,000 awards and classes at more than 1,400 shows in 46 states and six Ca- nadian provinces for the 2022 competition season. Awards are available for a variety of disciplines including, among others, Dressage, Western Pleasure, Hunter/Jumper, Po- locrosse, and more. In addition, T.I.P. will be splitting its annual T.I.P. Championships horse show into multiple events spread out across the country. As of press time, the Western Champion- ships and the Central Region


Dressage Championships will be held during the annual Retired Racehorse Project Make- over and Symposium in Kentucky. New for 2022, T.I.P. will be off ering year-end


or championship awards in association with the American Endurance Ride Conference,


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 THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION | FEBRUARY 2022 | 9


Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire


MDA Photo


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  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60