FAIR HILL, Md--The U.S.Equestrian confirmed on Tuesday, March 10 that there will be no Maryland Five Star this year.

Boyd Martin on Commando 3, third at Fair Hill in 2025 (Photo by Allen Macmillan for Macmillan Photography)Maryland had held the annual  license for the five star competition, and as the 2026 competition has been canceled, the license is open and the 2027 competition is now open for bidding from other organizations.

The event was canceled "due to apparent financial concerns,"but not only has the five star been losing money, it also has lost its entire leadership.

Joanie Morris, the longtime competition director, left in November to go to the Aiken Horse Park Foundation in South Carolina.

Sports & Entertainment Corporation President Terry Hasseltime and CEO Jeff Newman left in December.

The five star has been losing money, and employees missed paychecks until the state recently authorized $94,000 for the Sport & Entertainment Cor[oration.

"It's such a shame," said Boyd Martin, who is eventing world ranked number two, and he won the Five Star in 2021 and finished third last year on Commando.

 

"THERE'S millions of dollars in infrastructure there," said Martin. "Everything is in place, so it's heartbreaking that we haven''t been able to take it through to completion."

"So many people donated s much money to this, and we thought we'd be able to hold jumping and dressage events there," he said. "We thought this facility would be a game changer for this region."

The Sports & Entertainment Corporation also runs the Preakness, and the state of Maryland is also facing huge difficulties in hosting year-round racing in Maryland.

The stat has apparently indicated that it is looking fo  a way to host future five star events at Fair Hill that wouldn't involve using state funds.

That might mean a potential take-over by a private entity.

Maryland previously held a very successful four star, and then the state took over and spent millions on a new facility with all-weather footing and a new cross country course.

The five star has been held at this new facility since 2021, and this year's event had been scheduled for October

U.S. Equestrian said that there is a potential new licensee for this year'sCCI3*-L.

There follows a press release concerning a 3* at Fair Hill this fall.