Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: May 22, 2018
The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is assisting the Maryland State Fair at Timonium in adding a second stakes to its annual summer meet as well as participating in a new college scholarship day program at the fair.
During the May 22 Maryland Racing Commission meeting, Bill Reightler, who coordinates racing operations for the Timonium meet, said a stakes for fillies and mares will join the Coalition Stakes, which was added in 2017. The Coalition, for 3-year-olds and up, and the as-yet-named stakes for females will both be run at 6 1/2 furlongs.
“Last year we had a great meet,” Reightler said. “This year, through the cooperation of the MTHA and the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, we’re going to run two stakes. We’ll also be making upgrades to the paddock. We continue to modernize the facility.”
The MTHA is one of several organizations that have each committed $1,000 to a college scholarship day that will be scheduled during the fair meet. Reightler said $1,000 will be given out after each of the day’s nine races; students will be able to sign up online but must be present to win.
“I’d like to get all the groups involved in this,” said Reightler, who noted the success of a college scholarship day program at Keeneland.
The program fits in with the fair’s strategy to get more people, including those who attend the fair, to make their way over to the grandstand for horse racing.
(Timonium photo by Tom LaMarra)