Hopkins, RMTC receive ARCI awards
Mike Hopkins and Dionne Benson. Photo courtesy of ARCI.
From an Association of Racing Commissioners International release
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium and long-time Maryland Racing Commission executive director Michael Hopkins received the highest awards given by the organization that represents racing regulators last week.
The Association of Racing Commissioners International honored the RMTC with its William May Award and Hopkins with the Len Foote Award at its awards luncheon last Thursday, closing day of the ARCI’s 83rd annual conference on Equine Welfare and Racing Integrity at the Charleston Marriott.
The William May Award recognizes an individual or entity that has had a profound positive impact on professional racing. It is named for the late William May, who in the 1970s was one of the most powerful chairmen in the history of the Kentucky racing commission.
The RMTC strives to develop and promote uniform rules, policies and testing standards at the national level, along with coordinating research and educational programs that seek to ensure the integrity of the sport and the health and welfare of racehorses and participants, while also protecting the racing public’s interests.
“Without their contributions, I’m not sure many of us would have been as successful as we’ve been in the areas of drug testing, medication and medication uniformity, funding of research, development of lab standards, model RFP for bidding for lab services,” said ARCI president Ed Martin. “Running that organization is, frankly, kind of a thankless job. But the effort made is enormous. The executive committee thought that if RMTC was not here, how much harder all of our jobs would be.”
Said RMTC executive director Dionne Benson, “If we were to bring everybody up on this stage who contributed — members of our scientific-advisory committee, our board, those who serve on committees — there would be very few people left in the audience. Combine that with the trust put into RMTC and our recommendations by the regulators, we wouldn’t be an organization without those groups.
“This is a great reflection of the collaboration among all the industry groups that RMTC represents. We are very honored to accept this award on behalf of all the people who work so hard for RMTC.”
The Len Foote Award recognizes exemplary service and contribution to racing integrity by a commission executive director as chosen by his or her peers. The award is named in honor of the late Len Foote, longtime executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, and is considered the highest distinction for racing officials in North America and the Caribbean.
Hopkins grew up on his family’s farm, helping care for six stallions and more than 100 broodmares. At age 12, he was working the Fasig-Tipton yearling sales at Saratoga for Maryland’s famed Windfields Farm. His first racetrack job came in 1980 at Pimlico, taking tickets from fans entering the infield tunnel on Preakness Day. Hopkins, who spent 12 years as a steward and remains an accredited official, became deputy director of the Maryland Racing Commission in 1984 and executive director in 2002. He also is ARCI’s chair-elect.
Hopkins — who once, he says, wrestled a declawed bear (it’s a long story; the bear won) — said he benefited from great mentors, including “Mr. Preakness” Chick Lang, Bowie general manager Al Karwacki, Bowie board member Joe McLoone and Laurel general manager Ken Shertle. “Just a multitude of people,” he said. “Even growing up, there was Joe Hickey, the writer who worked for Windfields when I worked for them.”
