Maryland-breds

With major Breeders' Cup prep races all in the books, this past weekend's stakes action focused on state-bred and -sired programs in West Virginia, Maryland and Louisiana. It wasn't difficult to find three standout horses who turned in headline-worthy efforts for smaller-scale outfits whose perseverance and accomplishments routinely fly beneath the radar. Leading the charge at Charles Town was breeder/owner/trainer Cyndy McKee's Beau Ridge Farm, which won four of Saturday's night's 10 Breeders' Classic stakes for West Virginia-breds, and ran second and third with two other entrants. "It felt like...

The 38th edition of Jim McKay Maryland Million Day will take place Saturday, Oct. 12 at Laurel Park, the organization that puts on the event said in Friday release. Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, Maryland's Day at the Races, is designed to promote Maryland stallions, whose offspring compete in the races with purses and awards of over $1 million each year. "Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, now known as Maryland's Day at the Races, celebrates Maryland's horse industry," said Maryland Million executive director Cricket Goodall. We have a an exciting...

The legendary 26-time stakes winner and fan favorite Ben's Cat and star foxhunter Mountain Dew are the newest inductees into the Maryland-Bred Thoroughbred Hall of Fame after a vote by a committee of Maryland racing industry members coordinated by the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland Racing Media Association. A son of Parker's Storm Cat, Ben's Cat did not debut until his 4-year-old season after breaking his pelvis at two, an injury that required six months of stall rest. He won his first two career starts in claiming company and...

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association (MHBA) has announced the creation of an aftercare account that will direct funds to support Maryland-bred racehorses as they are retired and preparing for their second career. The account, called BackStop, will be funded by extracting a $25 fee from each Maryland-bred registration submitted. BackStop funds will not replace or relieve the responsibility of the owner, breeder or trainer to arrange for aftercare for their retirees. Funds will be disperses on an as-available basis up to $2,000 and are to be used as adjunct support...