first published in the May 2024 Equiery

It is that time of year again when live racing in Maryland returns to Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse. Racing fans of all ages get a chance to tour the historic facility, which first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, during the Sunrise Tours. In addition, those attending morning tours meet trainers, grooms, exercise riders, watch the horses work out, and more.

Sunrise tours run May 14-17 from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. Visitors can sign up for a tour at the check-in table on the grandstand side of the track. Larger group tours need to be scheduled though Fran Burns at fran@boxwoodfarm.com.

Fran Burns
Fran Burns heads up the Sunrise Tours guides and owns a boarding barn in Monkton for retired horses, two of which are her own personal off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB), Dustin’s Dreamer and Garcon D’Or. In addition to Sunrise Tours, Fran is passionate about Thoroughbred aftercare and has been a longtime volunteer at MidAtlantic Horse Rescue in Warwick. Fran works at Canter for A Cause and can usually be found guiding horses into the Winner’s Circle at Pimlico. When she is not working with horses, she is the President of the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, Inc. which runs The Maryland State Fair and all that happens at the Timonium Fairgrounds. She also hosts Backstretch Tours at Timonium during race days during the summer meet. Fran takes great pride in her role there as her Great Grandfather was also President. Fran was the recipient of the 2022 Joe Kelly Unsung Hero Award presented by the Maryland Million Ltd.

April Smith
April Smith has been a Baltimore City tour guide for over 25 years. She started at Pimlico in 2006 and can also be seen at the Edgar Allan Poe House or on tours of Fell’s Point. Although her background is in ballet and theater, she took up riding in 2000 after a retired lesson horse came into her life. She currently owns an OTTB named Bet the Cat and a rescued Paint named Sugar. April has been a fierce advocate for Baltimore landmarks, especially Old Hilltop. She believes that the sport of horse racing is on the verge of being rediscovered if we, the fans, can help spread the word!

Jenile Tapscott
Jenile Tapscott inherited her love of horses from her parents, Carylyne and Radcliff. Both Thoroughbred trainers, they passed their passion for the sport to Jenile at a young age. Jenile trained horses with her dad until his death in the early 1990s, and still works with her mom as an assistant trainer. Her work with horses is expansive, from grooming and training to owning. Growing up, Jenile worked weekends and holidays at the track during school. After graduation, Tapscott started rubbing horses for trainer and mentor Charlie Hadry. Her pride shows when she lists the accomplishments of the horses that thrived under her care.

Jenile’s love of animals is reflected in all areas of her life. She retired from her full-time job as an animal caretaker at the USDA after 21 years and is thrilled that she now has more time to spend with the Thoroughbreds in her mom’s stable. Jenile was appointed to the Maryland Horse Industry Board in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore.

Jenile’s expertise and unique experiences enhance every tour she gives, and her passion makes them memorable.

Lynn Russell
Lynn Russell owns a small farm in Darlington where she has successfully bred, trained, and shown horses, and has worked with Thoroughbreds her entire life. Lynn works with young horses to get them ready to race, and when they are ready to move on from their racing career, Lynn retrains them for the hunt field and show ring. She has enjoyed horse showing, teaching, working with pony clubbers and 4-H riders, and judging local shows. Lynn is a strong advocate for horse racing and has attended some of the biggest races in the country. Lynn is excited for her first year as a Sunrise Tour Guide and looks forward to meeting everyone at Pimlico.

Courtney Young
Courtney Young grew up riding ponies and horses and foxhunting with friends. She has always loved Thoroughbreds. Courtney’s experience in the racing industry includes being an exercise rider, trainer and owner of Thoroughbreds. She has worked in the Maryland horse racing industry for almost three decades. Pimlico is by far her favorite Maryland racetrack because of its rich history and accessibility to the masses.

Denise Carnes
Denise Carnes’ love for horses stems from her love of all animals. Her parents took her to Pimlico and Timonium for races when she was young and she loved to watch the horses. “My dad, being an avid horse racing fan, told me the stories of the great horses of the past. We enjoyed all the racing events when I was growing up,” she said. Her love for horses was passed on to her daughter, who took the love a step further by showing in hunter/jumper competitions. “We also attended events such as Preakness, Belmont, Breeders’ Cup and the Kentucky Derby,” she added. Denise stated, “I love being a Sunrise Tour guide because it brings back wonderful memories for me. I also love passing on the history of Pimlico and the traditions of Maryland horse racing to new generations of fans who come to the Sunrise tours.”

Yomar Ortiz, Jr.
Those who attended Sunrise Tours in 2023 may have run into pony jockey Yomar Ortiz, Jr., who was stationed with Frank Douglas demonstrating how jockeys ride racehorses. At just 15 years old and currently in ninth grade, Yomar is back this year assisting with the jockey demos. Yomar has an all-around love for horses and ponies. “My dream is to become a jockey like my dad,” he said. Yomar currently horse shows, fox hunts, and rides in pony races.

Sally Eck
Sally Eck has taken many Sunrise Tours in the past and said being a tour guide is something she always wanted to do! Sally enjoys Maryland racing at Pimlico and also works at the annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show prepping horses for Chanceland Farm. Sally also works at the Fasig-Tipton Yearling and Mixed Sales and has helped with Thoroughbred Day at the Maryland State Fair. Sally has had the pleasure to be around such great racehorses as Cordmaker, Aloha West and Cathryn Sophia during her many years at Chanceland.

Donna Sullivan
Donna Sullivan’s love of horses takes her from foaling babies to horse showing and hauling horses for others. Donna and her family own a horse farm in Jarrettsville where she has a few broodmares and enjoys raising babies to train and show. Her horses have competed at many of the major horse shows up and down the East Coast. Donna continues to assist with foaling for some major Thoroughbred breeding farms in Maryland as well. She spends her free time raising Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Donna enjoys the Sunrise Tours as they allow her to meet people and educate them about racing and the history of Old Hilltop.

Katherine Powder
Katherine Powder has lived and worked with horses, mainly Thoroughbreds, for 40 years. She foxhunted in Carroll County and is an avid trail rider. She and her husband breed Thoroughbreds on a small scale and are fierce advocates for rehoming of Thoroughbreds after racing. Katherine and her husband retrain many of their homebreds after racing to go on to other careers. Katherine has worked at a large Thoroughbred breeding farm and was an equine vet assistant for 13 years. Katherine said, “Sunrise Tours introduce people from all walks of life to these amazing creatures as well as the history of racing and the history of Pimlico in particular.” She went on to add, “Horses bring people together; it’s wonderful to see the joy in the faces of children and adults.”

Wendy Albert
Wendy Chapin Albert of Ruxton has been a horse lover throughout her entire life, having grown up where many “backyard horses” were located within walking distance from her home. She received her first pony, Tangerine, when she was 12 years old. As a Green Spring Pony Club member, she enjoyed fox hunting, eventing and showing her pony, and later her horse. Wendy was a member of Sweet Briar College’s IHSA team and loved traveling to shows. Her husband’s family has had racehorses for several generations and she now enjoys watching their own foals grow, be trained and start careers at the track. The part Wendy likes best about Sunrise Tours is introducing people to Pimlico and taking guests to the Stakes Barn and the Winner’s Circle. “Our historic track, cupola and artistic treasures are always special to point out,” Wendy explains.

Erika Taylor Crowl
Erika Taylor Crowl grew up riding with Elkridge-Harford Hunt Pony Club. When she was 15 years old, she started hot walking horses at Pimlico on the weekends for one of her Pony Club instructors. A year later, she started galloping for Kevin Boniface at Bonita Farm in the mornings before school. “Kevin was very instrumental in my riding career,” Erika said. After college, Erika began working for the late Tom Voss, which is when she started riding steeplechase races. Thanks to FEGENTRI (the International Federation of Gentleman and Lady Riders), she has been able to travel the world riding flat races while representing the U.S. Currently, Erika rides for various trainers in the mornings at Pimlico, all while working full-time for the University of Maryland Extension. “On my down time, I enjoy foxhunting and horse showing,” she said. Erika loves being able to share her passion for horse racing with those who come to the Sunrise Tours. “Especially sharing Maryland’s rich racing history with others who may know little about horses in general and watching their faces light up with excitement when they come to the backside,” she elaborated.

Justine Howell
Justine Howell is a third generation racing professional who owns a boutique breeding operation. Her focus is mainly on commercial sales, but she also retains some Thoroughbreds for her own racing stable. In addition to racing, she is also very passionate about post racing Thoroughbred retirement. Justine sits on the boards of both Canter PA as well as Canter USA and has competed at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover every year since 2014. Justine is looking forward to sharing her passion with the public.

Posey Obrecht
Posey Obrecht has been around horses for as long as she can remember. She grew up foxhunting, competing in hunter/jumpers on the “A” circuit and playing polo. Polo is Posey’s sport of choice these days; she has won two National Championships and was the Women’s College Player of the Year her senior year at the University of Kentucky. During college, Posey worked at Fasig Tipton and also with Georganne Hale at Pimlico. Posey has been back to the track every year since college because she loves the Preakness and Pimlico so much! Currently, Posey is the Director of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races.

Frank Douglas
Frank Douglas grew up in the Panama Thoroughbred horseracing industry. His grandfather and father were Thoroughbred racehorse owners and many of his family members are still involved in racing. At 19, he enrolled in Panama’s prestigious jockey school, which is named after Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. Frank moved to the U.S. shortly after to pursue a jockey career. His 20-year career has included over 1,223 winning mounts and 32 stakes races. Riding a horse named Capbodgit was a career highlight as well as riding in the 1998 Preakness Stakes. Frank retired in 2004 and is currently a jockey’s agent representing jockeys JD Acosta and Johan Rosado. Frank says, “Thoroughbred racing is a sport for many, and for me it’s always been my passion.” Frank will be at the Sunrise Tour jockey stop this year.