NEWS & VIEWS continued


rider to represent T e Stronach Group track. “I want to thank Georganne, Sal and Mr.


[Frank] Stronach for giving me the opportu- nity to go there and represent the United States and the Maryland Jockey Club,” Serpa said.


Michael Hopkins Honored with the Touch of Class Award


T e Maryland Horse Industry Board present- ed the Touch of Class Award to Michael Hop- kins, the executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission, at the 2018 Jim McKay Maryland Million Day on Saturday, October 20. Hopkins received the award for being the fi rst Marylander named Chair of the Associa- tion of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).


Hopkins has been the executive director of


the Maryland Racing Commission for 18 years, which oversees and regulates the Maryland Harness and T oroughbred racing industries. He has also served on ARCI’s Board of Direc- tors for the last fi ve years, in addition to serving on fi ve ARCI committees. “T e equine community is an important part of Maryland’s rural heritage and the same is true for the horse racing industry,” said Mary- land Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “T is is due in large part to the continued commitment and passion of people like Mike Hopkins. He has done an excellent job in his role as executive director of the Racing Commission, and we are proud to see him repre- senting our state in the ARCI. T is award is well deserved.” T e Touch of Class Award is presented monthly by MHIB


Pony Clubber Wins Trail Competition


Mackenzie Hicks of New Windsor was the Junior Grand Champion of the 25 Mile New Jersey Devil Competitive Trail Ride on No- vember 3. Hicks rode Shae, a nine-year old Arabian mare, who is a veteran distance com- petitor with fi ve one-day 100 mile rides and over 1,000 competition miles. T is competi- tive trail ride is a distance event in which riders


to honor Maryland horses, individuals, teams, organiza- tions or events that demon- strate national or interna- tional excellence. T e award is named after the Maryland T oroughbred mare, Touch of Class, who is a member of the U.S Show Jumping Hall of Fame. Recipients of this award must achieve excellence in the equine industry. More than 200 Marylanders and 100 of their horses have received the Touch of Class Award, spanning over 28 dif- ferent equestrian disciplines.


must cover set distances with- in a predetermined time. T is was Hicks fi rst time compet- ing in a competitive trail ride. T e competition also in-


volves being evaluated by a Veterinary Judge and a Horse- manship Judge. Veterinary judges evaluate the horses’ condition, soundness and trail ability/manners,


while the


Maryland Pony Clubber Mack- enzie Hicks won the Junior Grand Championship at the 25 Mile New Jersey Devil Competi- tive Trail Ride.


Horsemanship judges evalu- ate the horses’ care, the rider’s long distance riding equita- tion, trail safety and courtesy, and the pair’s performance as a team. Hicks placed fourth


overall in Horsemanship. Hicks is a dual USPC member of Talbot Run Equestrian Riding Center and Burntwoods Pony Club. She is also part of the fi ve person T underhooves Games Team.


MDHT Top Trainers Kudos to Andy Armstrong


(pictured) of Poolesville on winning this year’s Instructor Recognition Program for the 2018 Maryland Horse Trials Starter and USEA Recognized Horse Trials. Second place went to Natalie Hollis of Dick- erson and third place to Chian- tel Beaumont of Glenelg.


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10 | THE EQUIERY | DECEMBER 2018


800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


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