Maryland Horse Breeders Association

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association's 92nd annual show of Thoroughbred yearlings has been scheduled for June 28 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The show will start at 10 a.m. The MHBA Yearling Show is open to all yearlings eligible for Maryland-bred registration and divided into four classes: Maryland-sired colts and geldings, out-of-state-sired colts and geldings, Maryland-sired fillies, and out-of-state-sired fillies. Prizes of $1,000 are awarded in each class, as well as $100 Maryland Million awards for Class I and Class III. The grand champion takes home an additional...

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association has tapped bloodstock agent David Ingordo to judge the 91st annual yearling show, which will be held on Sunday, June 29 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Horse Show Ring in Timonium, the organization said on Friday in a press release. Born into a racing family, Ingordo has been connected throughout his career to the industry. He launched his professional career at Juddmonte and Walmac Farms before establishing his own bloodstock agency. The nearly endless list of top level runners Ingordo has been involved with include...

Hillwood Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Post Time (Frosted) was named 2024 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, champion older male and champion sprinter when last season's champions were announced the week of Feb. 24 on the MHBA's social media accounts. Trained by Brittany Russell, Post Time won last year's GII Carter Stakes and GIII General George Stakes. On the board in all 15 career starts, with nine wins, the 5-year-old has earned $1,227,910 on the racetrack. Other Maryland champions announced last week include: champion 2-year-old male: Studlydoright (Nyquist); champion 2-year-old...

The 63rd annual class of Maryland-bred champions will be named starting next Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m. ET each morning on social media, according to a press release from the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA). In addition to the divisional champions and Horse of the Year, the MHBA's top awards for Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder will be revealed. The winners will be celebrated at the eighth annual Renaissance Awards, which will be held Friday, Apr. 18 at Laurel Park. The announcement schedule is as follows: Wednesday, Feb. 26--Maryland-bred...

The Maryland Horse Foundation Stallion Season opened Sunday and will continue online until Feb. 12. Hosted by Thoroughbredauctions.com, the auction includes seasons to Blofield, Bourbon Courage, Cupid, Divining Rod, Endorsed, Engage, Friesian Fire, Galawi (Ire), Holy Boss, Kobe's Back, Mosler and Warrant. Proceeds from the auction will support operations of the Maryland Horse Foundation, which was chartered in 1988 by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association to serve various educational and charitable needs of the Maryland horse industry. For more information on the auction, visit:  https://internethorseauctions.com/auction-tb.php?aucid=567.

Three horses, all Grade I winners, have been selected for induction into the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame in 2024: Alma North, Richard's Kid, and Shine Again. A committee of Maryland racing industry members coordinated by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Racing Media Association were responsible for the vote. The newest inductees will be celebrated during a ceremony after the fourth race on opening day of the Timonium race meet on Friday, Aug. 23. "This year's inductees are indicative of the reach of our great Maryland-bred horses and...

Eight horses have been named finalists for induction into the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame in 2024. The finalists are: Alma North, Caveat, Eightofasttocatch, Heros Reward, Post Boy, Richard's Kid, Shine Again, and Smart Angle. To be considered, a horse must have been bred in Maryland and be retired for at least five years. The horses selected to enter the Hall of Fame will be announced with a special ceremony Aug. 23 during live racing at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium. The Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame was created...

David and JoAnn Hayden's Dark Hollow Farm came away victorious in three of the four classes at the 90th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association's Yearling Show held Sunday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. Dark Hollow Farm's colt by The Factor, co-bred and owned with Ellen Charles of Hillwood Stable, was awarded the grand champion trophy by this year's judge, longtime bloodstock agent Rick Abbot. The Haydens have now won 19 classes (solely or in partnership), since 1989 with grand champions in 2009 and 2014. A total of 59...

Bloodstock agent Rick Abbott has been named the judge for the 90th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show to be held July 21 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. With his wife Dixie, Abbott operated Charlton Bloodstock for nearly 40 years, selling yearlings, weanlings and broodmares at the major sales around the country. Charlton, headquartered in Pennsylvania, was one of the region's top consignors for decades. In addition to selling horses for clients, Charlton became a busy breeding farm, boarding and foaling mares and, early on, even standing...

Five open seats on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) have been filled, with four of the positions filled by returning members and one by a new member. Returning to the board are veterinarian Brooke Bowman, DVM; owner-breeder Michael Horning; Country Life Farm and Merryland Farm co-owner Josh Pons; and Northview Stallion Station's general manager David Wade. Trainer Phil Schoenthal is joining the MHBA Board for the first time. The five elected will serve for the next three years and will join current directors William...

The winners of the seventh annual Renaissance Awards, hosted by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, will be announced each morning at 10:00 a.m. on Maryland Thoroughbred social media platforms beginning Feb. 26 and continuing through Saturday, Mar. 2. Awards will be given for the top Maryland owner, trainer, jockey, dirt horses, turf horses, claimer, Maryland stallion, broodmare and breeder and champion Maryland-breds of 2023. Special awards will be presented to Pimlico and Laurel Park Backstretch Employees of the Year.   The announcement schedule is...

Maryland was one of the breakout states in the American Horse Council's report on the economic impact of the national horse industry, released on Jan. 31. The total economic impact of the industry grew 38% between 2017 and 2022, from $2.1 billion to $2.9 billion. In addition, the industry's direct contribution to Maryland's GDP grew by 40.5% between 2017 and 2022. The industry is responsible for 28,434 jobs, and horse industry wages total more than $1.24 billion. The survey, conducted in 2023 by the American Horse Council, determined that Maryland...