The Maryland Racing Commission will continue its voluntary agreement to assist the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), which implements HISA’s drug rules. The Commission on Tuesday approved extending that agreement, in effect in 2023, for an additional year through the end of 2024.

The decision was reached at the Commission’s monthly meeting at Laurel Park.

Under the terms of the agreement, no money changes hands. However, Maryland will receive an estimated credit of $876,000 to be counted against HISA’s assessment for 2024. That assessment is slightly more than $4 million and is paid by the horsemen and the racetrack operator.

According to Racing Commission executive director J. Michael Hopkins, Commission personnel will continue to organize and maintain the state’s safety and welfare committee, implement regulations such as the whip rules, collect blood and urine samples for drug testing, and similar “back office” procedures for HISA. The actual adjudication of penalties, whether for whip rule violations, failure to register a horse or person, anti-doping penalties, or other matters will remain the purview of HISA and HIWU.

“Nothing’s really going to change” in 2024 versus 2023, Hopkins added.

In other Commission business, Maryland Jockey Club acting president Mike Rogers reported that total all-sources handle for the major Maryland tracks rose to $611 million from $602 in 2022. That 1.5% increase came despite the tracks running two fewer days this year – 162 versus 164 – and amid general industry malaise which, through November, had seen national handle decline more than 4%.

Hopkins also reported that the company’s local harness property, Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, had seen handle increase by 20% in 2023. The 2024 meet at Rosecroft is scheduled to begin January 18.

The Commission also approved the recommended state-bred bonus structure for the first half of 2024, a continuation of the current bonus program. That program pays the breeders of Maryland-breds finishing first, second, or third in overnight and stakes races in Maryland 22.5% of the horse’s purse earnings; stallion owners receive 7.5% when Maryland-sired horses win. Additionally, owners of Maryland-breds receive a 15% bonus for top three finishes.

George Mahoney, who has been on the Commission for several months and also serves as the Commission’s rep on the state’s Racetrack Operating Authority, has been named chairman of the Commission, it was announced today. In addition, the Commission welcomed a new member in attorney Shawn Wright, who is a partner at the law firm Blank Rome.

The new Commission meeting is scheduled for February 6 at Laurel Park.

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