NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use WIHS Returns to Maryland


T e Washington International Horse Show organizing committee announced on Decem- ber 9 that the 2022 show, presented by MARS Equestrian, will be held at T e Show Place Arena at Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, pending USEF and FEI approval. WIHS also announced the same day that the 2022 show has been upgraded to the FEI 5* level. PGEC will be transformed into a world-class


facility for international competition through the support of Prince George’s County, T e Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission and the State of Maryland. In ad- dition, WIHS is partnering with nearby Na- tional Harbor waterfront complex to create a WIHS Hotel and Hospitality Campus, which will include community events such as the pop- ular WIHS Kids’ Day. T e 2022 show will continue as a member of


the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup North American League and will also off er increased prize money and ranking points throughout the international divisions. At the PGEC, WIHS will bring back the Exhibitors’ Lounge and VIP Dining Platform.


T e show will run October 25-


30, 2022. To read the full press release from WIHS, visit equi- ery.com.


Laurel Park Returns to Live Racing


After shutting down the main


track at Laurel Park for repairs, the Maryland Racing Commis- sion reopened the track on De- cember 14 for training with live racing returning on December 16. On December 2, the Maryland


Maryland Secretary of State John Wobensmith and Minis- ter Xueyuan Xu from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China along with MHIB representatives


Jockey Club suspended live rac- ing while repairing the track surface. Training on the main dirt track was suspended on No- vember 29 while offi cials investigated recent equine injuries at the track. According to the T oroughbred Daily News,


seven horses have died due to injuries sustained on the track since November 6 of this year. T e most recent death occurred on November 28. Alan Foreman, an attorney who represents


the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s As- sociation, said most of the “red-fl ag cluster of fatalities” occurred near the middle of the homestretch. He was quoted as saying, “If there is a short-term remedy, then we’ll try to implement a short-term remedy. If it’s a longer-term issue, we’ll have to address all of those factors.” On December 7, MJC announced that


Laurel Park would remain closed for live racing while work continued to complete renovation of the track surface. T e track reopened a week later.


MHIB Partners with Chinese Equestrian Association


Hunting friends of Evelyn L. “Jeep” Cochran and the Maryland Association for Wildlife Conservation Board honored her years of ser- vice, dedication and mentorship at a reception held on December 12 at the Green Spring Val- ley Hounds hunt club. During the reception, a commissioned painting by Sam Robinson of Jeep and her Calf Pasture Bassets was un- veiled. In addition, a donation in Jeep’s name was presented to the Loudoun Agricultural and Mechanical Institute Foundation, where the Maryland basset and beagle foot packs travel to hunt and compete several times each year.


On December 15, Maryland Secretary of


State John Wobensmith was joined by Min- ister Xueyuan Xu from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China as well as Mary- land Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Julie Oberg, and Ross Peddicord, Executive Direc- tor of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, to sign an agreement with the Anhui Prov- ince Equestrian Association and Dangshan County that will promote equestrian prac- tices, strengthening a 41-year-old partnership between Maryland and its sister state. “T e agreement that Ross Peddicord and


his counterparts in Dangshan County and the Anhui Equestrian Association signed this evening represents a win-win situation for the people of both regions. It is a true testament to the important role that subnational partner- ships play in our world today,” said Secretary of State Wobensmith. “Maryland has a thriving horse industry with


a proud history. We are delighted to share our expertise and experiences with you and in turn learn more about Chinese agricultural and equestrian practices,” said Peddicord. T e areas of cooperation identifi ed in the


agreement include T oroughbred horse breed- ing; an introduction to harness racing; Mary- land’s sport of jousting; equine educational opportunities; hay and pasture production; and participation in the new Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill International. T e agreement will last for fi ve years and includes an option to renew. In 2019, a Maryland delegation, includ-


ing Secretary Wobensmith, Deputy Secretary Oberg, and MHIB Director Ross Peddicord visited Anhui on a mission to learn more about equestrian sports. T ey also attended the Chi- nese Equestrian Association FEI 3 Star En- durance Race in Dangshan to learn about An- hui’s interest in horses. T e agreement signing was attended by


other Maryland notables, including Jim Steele, Chair of the Maryland Horse Industry Board; Cricket Goodall, Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association; Jeff Newman, President and CEO of the Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill; Bill Reightler, Board of Di- rectors, Maryland Horse Breeders Association; Bob Zhang, Asia Representative, Maryland Horse Industry Board; Luis Borunda, Mary-


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 | JANUARY 2022 | 9


Anne Litz


Maryland Horse Industry Board


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