Yesterday, January 29, we reported that the State had missed its deadline to respond to the Maryland Horse Council’s MPIA request for records on the state funds expended on the Maryland 5 Star.
Today, January 30, a source close to the issue shared the following:
In 2025, the Sports and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland’s budget for the Maryland 5 Star was ~$7 million. It received only $2.4 million in grant money from the State. According to our sources, additional revenue came from sponsorships ($1.2 million), ticket sales ($800,000), and Cecil County ($550,000).
The 2025 State grant funds were slightly less than the funds received in previous years.
In 2024, the State granted $2.6 million.
In 2022 and 2023, the State granted $2.8 each year.
The State’s grant program did not exist in 2021, which was the first year of the Maryland 5 Star.
How much the State plans to grant the 2026 edition of the Maryland 5 Star is not yet clear.
The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) has prepared an analysis of the Maryland Stadium Authority’s budget proposals, which analysis is the subject of a hearing scheduled before a Senate Budget & Tax subcommittee this coming Monday, February 2.
DLS has yet to post its analysis of the Maryland Stadium Authority’s budget proposal to the public, despite the fact that it has posted its analyses for each of the other budget briefings it will give to that same committee on Monday.
This is a developing story. Will provide updates as available.
