The Maryland Horse Breeders Association today issued the following press release:

The Maryland Horse Breeders Association is proud to announce Rick Abbott as the judge of its 90th annual Yearling Show.  Open to all yearlings eligible for Maryland-bred registration, the show will be held on Sunday, July 21 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds’ Horse Show Ring in Timonium.
 
Longtime bloodstock agent Rick Abbott has seen a lot of horses. With his wife Dixie, Rick operated Charlton Bloodstock for nearly 40 years, selling yearlings, weanlings and broodmares at the major sales around the country.
 
Headquartered in Pennsylvania, Charlton was one of the region’s top consignors for decades. Charlton had the sales-topper at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale, and was a successful pinhooker, selling millions of dollars in horses.
 
In addition to selling horses for clients, Charlton became a busy breeding farm, boarding and foaling mares and, early on, even standing a stallion or two.  
 
“I’ve looked at a lot of yearlings over the years,” said Abbott of his bloodstock career. “I feel honored to be asked to judge the 90th anniversary of this show.”

The Abbotts retired in 2016, sending their final Charlton consignment to that fall’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale.
 
Abbott joins an esteemed list of MHBA yearling show judges, that includes Hall of Fame and Triple Crown-winning trainers, and several notable bloodstock agents. Well known Maryland-breds who competed as yearlings include Hall of Safely Kept, Declan’s Moon, Sharing and Cathryn Sophia.

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