September 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2023 Page 29 Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Honorees Named Mountain Dew started 24 times in sanctioned timber races and never fell. In his only flat start (at 3) he exited with an injury. Mountain Dew holds the record of winning six Maryland Grand Nationals in eight starts and placing in the other two. After he recovered from his 1968 injury, he went back to life as a foxhunter. “Our two newest inductees demonstrate both the depth and quality of Maryland breeding over the decades and its remark- able resilience to today,” said Maryland Racing Media Asso- ciation president Frank Vespe. “It underlines what Ben's Cat was able to accomplish, espe- cially given his modest begin- nings, that he is the first horse to conclude his career since the Hall of Fame's creation to be inducted in his first year of eligibility.” This year's inductees will be celebrated during a ceremo- ny between races at Timonium Race Course on Saturday, Sep- tember 2. Under the collaboration of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Rac- ing Media Association, the Hall of Fame was initiated in 2013 as a means of celebrating the excellence of state-bred Thor- oughbred horses and debuted with an inaugural class of 12. There are now 33 members. Ben's Cat and Mountain Dew join MTHOF members Awad, Broad Brush, Caesar's Wish, Challedon, Cigar, Concern, Conniver, Dave's Friend, De- puted Testamony, Devil's Bag, El Gran Senor, Find, Gallorette, Heavenly Cause, Jameela, J. O. Tobin, Kauai King, Little Bold John, Politely, Safely Kept, Smoke Glacken, Social Outcast, Star de Naskra, Twixt, Vertex, What a Summer and Youth and steeplechasers Elkridge, Good Night Shirt, Jay Trump and Tuscalee. The newest honorees, with biographies, photos, videos and complete race records, will be showcased online at mdthorough bredhalloffame.com . (Continued from page 25) Please submit your events to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net Please provide event name, location, city, state and contact information for inclusion at no cost in East Coast Equestrian's calendar. Attention Event Organizers! The news East Coast horse owners need to know.