June 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN June 2020 Page 25 Remember...tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian. 44 Edgefield Rd. • Quarryville, PA 17566 The Racing and Community Development Act of 2020, which will protect the long-term future of horse racing in Maryland through the rebuilding of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park into state-of-the art facilities, was one of many bills Gov. Larry Hogan allowed to become law without his signature May 7. The legislation, which had broad bipartisan support in the House of Delegates and Senate, calls for the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $375 million in bonds for the projects through a combination of funds from the Racetrack Facility Renewal Account, the Purse Dedication Account, video lottery terminal payments to Baltimore City and money from the Mary- land Lottery. The Act will take effect June 1. The plan that led to the legis- lation was put together beginning last summer by Alan Foreman, legal counsel for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Asso- ciation; Alan Rifkin, legal counsel for the Maryland Jockey Club; and Bill Cole, a consultant who previously served as President of the Baltimore Development Corp. The plan includes a new stable area, training facility and synthetic racing surface at Laurel and the ability to use the new Pimlico as a year-round event and community center. Amajor part of the legis- lation is keeping the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and giving the racetrack property to the city. “It has been a long road, and we’re all thrilled about the future of Maryland racing now,” Fore- man said. “It’s hard to believe, but this (plan) didn’t even exist a year ago. We took our best shot and put together a plan that is a win-win for everyone involved. This legislation got very little pushback and had strong bi- partisan support. This is a very important day in the future of the Maryland racing industry.” The legislation passed both houses on the final day of a Gen- eral Assembly session shortened by the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), which ultimately led to a shutdown of numerous Maryland business and industries, including live horse racing. Fore- man said the current environment will impact when the rebuild- ing plan can begin, but in the meantime the Maryland Stadium Authority will begin to do the necessary design work. “We’ll have some breathing room in the transition period,” Foreman said. Hogan, who also allowed legislation authorizing a state- wide sports betting referendum to be on the November ballot this year, indicated in a release that he didn’t look favorably upon bills that increased spending or taxes. The Racing and Community De- velopment Act was designed to employ funds already dedicated to the racing industry. “We decided last year we needed to do this within our own means with existing revenue,” Foreman said. “We avoided a potential problem with a capital project that does not require (tax increases).” Racing Development Act Becomes Maryland Law The two-track reconstruction project will also provide many jobs, both in the construction phase and after the projects are complete, and protect one of the most important industries in Maryland, Foreman said. Other key horse-related as- pects of the Racing and Commu- nity Development Act are forma- tion of a dedicated equine health, welfare and safety committee that will fall under the Maryland Racing Commission and pro- duce annual reports, and a study into construction of an equine research and medical facility at the rebuilt Laurel.