NEWS &VIEWS You Can Use


Changes at Baltimore County Ag Center Spark Controversy


Amid local controversy, the Baltimore Coun-


ty Agricultural Center on Shawan Road in Cockeysville offi cially began construction on a new outdoor riding arena earlier this month. Currently, the New York-based Saratoga War- horse Foundation runs an equine therapy pro- gram for veterans out of the indoor arena and horse barn already at the facility. T e current indoor arena and barn cost nearly $3 million and opened last year. T e new equine project is slated at $2.5 million. T e Ag Center is run and funded primarily


by Baltimore County, which is why some feel spending $2.5 million on an outdoor arena is unnecessary. Seventy-fi ve percent of the pro- posed construction budget would be coming from the State’s Open Space Program while 25% is proposed to come from Baltimore County’s capital budget. Some locals feel that by expanding the horse-related part of the facilities, the Ag Center is losing its focus on general agriculture and education. T ose in favor of the project point out that the Maryland horse industry generates $512 million annually and provides 28,000 full-time and part-time jobs. Funds generated from use of the arena could go right back into the Ag Center and into the County and State’s econ- omy. Horses are also a very large part of the Maryland agricultural community. If you would like to share your opinions on the construction of the outdoor arena at the Ag Center, please email T e Equiery at editor@ equiery.com.


Bowie Track Reopening T e Stronach Group announced


in early November that it plans to re-open Bowie Race Track as a training center. Stronach Group Chief Operating Offi cer (COO) Tim Ritvo told the T oroughbred Daily News, “We’re going to bring Bowie back as a training center and as a world- class training center. It will be something like we have with Palm Meadows.” Ritvo went on to say that even if Pimlico is


Rutledge Crowned USEF CCI1* Champ Kudos to Colleen Rutledge of Frederick and C Me


Fly on their CCI1* Championship win. T e pair were in second place going into the fi nal phase of the competi- tion and jumped clean to secure the win to be named the USEF CCI1* Eventing National Champion.


rebuilt, it would only have ship-in barns and no permanent stabling, therefore Bowie is a great location for the nearly 1,500 horses currently at Pimlico. Plans for the rebuilding of Bowie include adding a turf track. T ere might also be addi- tional barns built. T ere is also talk of hosting short racing festivals there if Pimlico closes.


MHC VP Elected AA Co Executive Current Maryland Horse Council vice presi-


dent, and former MHC president, Steuart Pit- tman, was recently elected as Anne Arundel County’s county executive. Pittman received 51.8% of the county’s votes while incumbent Steve Schuh received 48.1%. In addition, the County Council fl ipped to a 4-3 Democratic majority.


A life-long horseman, Pittman and his siblings


are the eighth generation of his family to own the 550-acre Dodon Farm in Davidsonville. At Dodon, Pittman made a career as a breeder, trainer and competitor in three-day eventing. Pittman competed through the Advanced level


Letters to the Editor - Baltimore Ag Center


on his Maryland-bred T oroughbred stallion Salute T e Truth. He grew up riding with St. Margaret’s Pony Club and the Marlborough Hunt Club and graduated from the University of Chicago. After graduating from college, Pit- tman spent eight years as a political and com- munity organizer in Chicago, Des Moines and Washington, DC, before returning to Dodon. He also founded the Retired Racehorse Project and currently is the organization’s board chair.


Serpa Returns to Laurel Park with China Win


rider Angel Serpa,


Journeyman who


is based at Laurel Park, represented the U.S. and the Maryland Jockey Club at the 16th annual China Wuhan In-


Angel Serpa, representing Maryland and the U.S., won big in China this fall


Regarding the outdoor ring, the cost for this seems rather high. A great contractor professionally built mine with layers and layers of drainage and various materials and the best sand footing from a Joppa quarry. Mine is 165’ x 165’ instead of 200’ x 100’, which is almost the same square footage as the ring the Ag Center is building. Fifteen years ago it cost us about $60,000 to build our ring. Today, probably it would cost $120,000. We don’t have the parking lot or bleachers that the Ag Center has. T is could be another possible cost of around $800,000 or even $1 million. Why is the reported cost so high? It seems like it can be built for less money. It is great they are running programs for Veterans. We also need children’s programs so the next generation can fall in love with horses. Horses are an important part of the Maryland culture and economy. Horse shows and clinics, 4H activities and Baltimore County Pony Club activities, camp outs and stay-overs could also be held year round with a nice indoor. T e County should reconsider the use of the indoor. Glad they are doing something horse related with this property. T e County should keep going to make it great. - Cheryl London, Woodstock


ternational Horse Racing Festival at Orient Lucky City Wuhan International Racecourse. Originally from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Serpa won the International Jockeys’ Race on the 1,200-meter race that runs clockwise around the sand-based track. “I’m feeling so thankful to everyone,”


Serpa said. “I was the only U.S. rider over there and it was a really good experience. It was the fi rst time I had ever ridden there and to win, that’s the exciting part when you pass the wire in front. I am very grate- ful to be there and represent Maryland.” T e opportunity for Serpa to participate in the festival came after a Chinese del- egation made a visit to Laurel and asked MJC President and General Manager Sal Sinatra and Vice President of Racing Development Georganne Hale if Laurel would be interested in recommending a


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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 DECEMBER 2018 | THE EQUIERY | 9


Maryland Jockey Club


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