Senate Bill isolates Show Place Arena from PGEC, sets disturbing precedent
The 430th session of the Maryland General Assembly began on January 11, 2012 and will adjourn in 90 days. Each session, Maryland legislators generally tackle well over 2,000 bills, a relatively small proportion of which will affect the equestrian community directly. In this session, the early entered Senate Bill 15, titled could potentially have a long term affect on the horse industry. Senate Bill 15, entitled The Show Place Arena in Prince George’s County – Study Commission, has already generated a storm of opposition from within the equestrian community.
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Rapid Redux Wins Again
Rapid Redux reached another milestone when he won the sixth race at Laurel Park yesterday, January 4, 2012. The win marked the 22nd consecutive victory for the now six-year-old owned by Robert Cole and trained by David Wells. J.D. Acosta was in the irons for the win.
“The math is unbelievable when you think about it. It is tough to win this many in a row. The durability is his greatest trait,” Cole said after the race.
It was also announced yesterday morning that Rapid Redux will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award on January 16 during the 41st Annual Eclipse Awards, held in Beverly Hills, California. Cole will make the trip and accept the award on his horse’s behalf.
Howard County Barn Destroyed by Fire
The original bank barn at Chapel View Farm on Jennings Chapel Road in Woodbine was completely destroyed in a two-alarm fire on Sunday, January 1. Owner Paul Shoffeitt (a carriage driver) said the 100′ × 50′ barn had been built in the late 1890s and had been renovated several times over the years. Trainer Ashley Beheler, who rents a newer barn on the property, discovered the fire and called 911. No horses or other animals were in the barn at the time and there were no injuries.
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It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Horse Board Grants!
The Maryland Horse Industry Board has announced that it will distribute $21,000 to 15 grant request recipients! Included are therapeutic programs, conservationists, youth clubs, educational and research programs. MHIB will formally present the checks to the grant recipients at Horse World Expo on January 21, but you can find out now in the January 2012 print edition of The Equiery who the grant recipients are! The January 2012 print edition is in stores now – grab one this weekend!
The January print edition of The Equiery contains a list of grant recipients and a description of their projects. For the grant amounts each group will receive, check this blog in early January.
In the January print edition, The Equiery inadvertently left the following grant recipient off the list:
Maryland Therapeutic Riding: Scholarships for two instructor/therapists to be certified at a level high enough that they can then train other instructors.
The Equiery is distributed free throughout Maryland and the surrounding areas, in hundreds of tack shops, feed stores, some convenience stores and restaurants and other unique locations where equestrians gather. For a complete list of distributors, please click here. To become a distributor, please contact us at info@equiery.com.
ALSO IN THE JANUARY ISSUE: Your complete guide to the 2012 Maryland Horse World Expo as well as Maryland’s 2012 Stallions!
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Did you miss getting your classified ad in the January issue?
It is not too late to get a classified online for January – contact us today!
1-800-244-9580 or classifieds@equiery.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Racing Commission Approves Deal For 146 Days of Live Racing in 2012
Once again, the schedule comes down to the wire, with the owners of Laurel and Pimilco (Frank Stronach’s family) proposing a meager 40 day calendar, and the horsemen opposing the proposal. The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has once again had to pony-up money to the owners of Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Track in order to convince them to maintain a full calendar. Just appears to be routine shake-down/extortion scheme to us. Last year, MJC was able to get MTHA to give them $1.7 million, and this year they were able to twist the collective arm of the MTHA for even more. But, the Maryland Racing Commission approved the deal today, and so it is off to the races for now.
For more details, see articles in The Daily Record, The Baltimore Sun and The Blood-Horse.
Fasig-Tipton Timonium Ends Year on High Note
The December Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sales at Timonium enjoyed a dramatic increase for 2011 over 2010, with 260 horses sold (as opposed to 158 last year) for a total of $3.74 million dollars (as opposed to $968,000 in Dec. 2010). Now that is a Merry Christmas!
Pony Neglect Conviction
On Dec. 7, 2011, Lynne Bergeron of McDaniel, MD was been convicted of neglecting her pony, Bonnie. The Eastern Shore woman originally faced three charges: animal cruelty, inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain and failure to provide proper care for a pony diagnosed suffering from Cushing’s Disease.
Talbot County Animal Control investigated complaints in February of 2011 and found the pony underweight and with overgrown hooves. After some back and forth with various veterinarians and other government officials, according to the Star-Democrat, Bergeron (a lifelong horse woman who apparently had been having financial difficulties) voluntarily relinquished the pony to Halo’s Haven Rescue in St. Michael’s, but Talbot County proceeded with the charges. At the early December trail, the judge found her guilty of the most minor of the three charges (neglect) and sentenced Bergeron to 18 months of probation and a small fine covering court costs. Bergeron’s vet testified in her defense.
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Thinking of making a donation to a rescue, sanctuaries and/or a shelter this holiday season? Maryland’s equine charities could certainly use your help, as the number of “give-ups” has sky-rocketed in the last few years.
The Equiery encourages you to give, but to give wisely. To learn more about how to give wisely, and for quick links to Maryland equine charities, click here.
Rapid Redux Ties Citation Record
Yesterday, December 13, Rapid Redux tied Triple Crown winner Citation’s 1948 record for the most wins in a single calendar year. Both horses now hold the national record with 19 wins. Rapid Redux won the sixth race at Laruel Park by a half-length over Awesome Review with J.D. Acosta in the irons for owner Robert Cole and trainer David Wells. The win also marks the 21st consecutive victory for the 5-year-old.
Canterbury Farm Criminal Neglect Trial Postponed
Already rescheduled several times, the Centerbury Farm equine neglect and cruelty case has been postponed yet again.
Lawyers gathered on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the Queen Anne’s County District Court for the trial of Marsha Parkinson, the owner of Canterbury Farm. Parkinson faces 133 criminal charges for failing to provide adequate care for her breeding herd of Polish Arabian horses, which were impounded last spring.
According to the Star-Democract, Parkinson’s attorney, Jonathan P. Kagan of Baldwin, Kagan & Gormley LLC of Annapolis, claimed to need more time to prepare Parkinson’s defense and asked for a postponement.
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Fred. Co. Animal Control Monitoring Potential Neglect Situation
On Nov. 29, 2011, The Equiery reported that Pennsylvania authorities had seized 21 neglected horses at the Littlestown farm being rented to a James Houseman. The Pennsylvania station, ABC 27, which reported the story, claimed that Frederick County officials were investigating Mr. Houseman for a similar situation at a farm he leases in Thurmont, Maryland (Frederick County).
The Equiery followed up the story by contacting the Frederick News-Post to ask whether or not the News-Post was investigating this Frederick County story. As a result of The Equiery’s urging, on Saturday, December 3, the Frederick News-Post did publish a thorough update of the Maryland situation.
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USEF Drug & Medication Rule Changes Effective Starting Today!
Effective today, December 1, 2011, only one of the seven approved Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) listed by the US Equestrian Federation in rule GR 410.4 (“Therapeutic Drug Rule”) is permitted to be present in the same horse plasma or urine sample.
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