Hal C.B. Clagett, horseman, breeder, foxhunter, lawyer, and an equestrian community icon once referred to as”the most respected man in Maryland’s racing industry,” pass away yesterday, February 1, 2010. He was 94.
Clagett began breeding thoroughbreds at Weston in Prince George’s County, which was established in 1670 by a land grant to the Clagett family. Weston today is overseen today by Clagett’s son, Hal Jr., after Hal Sr. married Jeanne F. Begg in a second marriage, and moved to her Roedown Farm in Davidsonville in Anne Arundel County. Roedown hosts the annual Marlborough Race Meet, chaired by his niece, Christy Clagett, MFH of the Marlborough Hunt Club. Christy was introduced as a child to the sport of foxhunting by her uncle, then an honorary whipper-in for Marlborough.
Although he has bred and raced numerous champions (including, but not limited to, the famous Little Bold John), Hal C.B. Clagett will go down in Maryland history as the man who revolutionized the Maryland Thoroughbred industry. In 1962, Clagett authored and shepherded the legislation that created the groundbreaking Maryland Bred Fund, codifying in law the percentages for the track, the state and the horsemen. This legislation helped to make Maryland one of the most (and some would argue the most) preeminent states for the breeding of Thoroughbreds, and other states scrambled to duplicate Maryland’s success.
There will be a memorial reception, Thursday, Feb. 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Roedown (3856 Wayson Rd. Davidsonville), and a memorial services, Friday, 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 14519 Church St., Upper Marlboro, MD. Inurnment Private. Memorial contributions may be made to Maryland Horse Breeders Association P.O. Box 427; 30 East Padonia Road, Suite 303 Timonium, MD 21094
Comments, memories or photos of Mr. Clagett will be considered for inclusion on this blog or for print publication.
To lean more about Mr. Clagett, please visit
History of Roedown, by Ginna Gould
More links and photos to follow.
