Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association President Tim Keefe answered some of the most pressing questions horsemen have been asking during the Covid-19 shutdown.
Tim Keefe#1 – When will we race again and what will the schedule look like when we do resume?
Ultimately, the decision on when we can resume live racing lies solely with Maryland Governor Hogan. We are a State-regulated business and are subject to State mandates.
As I’m sure you’ve seen, and as we’ve detailed on the MTHA website, the Governor has issued his Road to Recovery Plan which places businesses into three categories of risk for purposes of reopening—Low, Medium and High. Re-openings will occur based on the classification of risk and protocols that will be in place to protect from spreading the coronavirus.
The Governor will permit businesses to reopen, starting with the Low risk category, when there has been a 14 consecutive day leveling or decline in COVID related hospitalizations and referrals to intensive care units. According to published reports this morning, we believe we are in day 4 of the curve.
BECAUSE of the tireless work of MTHA, MJC and the Stronach Group, in conjunction with MedStar Health, our health-care partner, and as the result of our success in conducting safe COVID-free training, we believe we are in the Low risk category and will be permitted to resume live, spectator-free racing at Laurel when the Governor permits businesses to reopen. I cannot underscore enough the importance of our health-care partner, Medstar to this process. They have been, and will continue to be, essential to our reopening and continuation in business in the current environment.
It is important for horsemen to understand that we have no ability to reopen for live racing until we are given the green light to do so by the State. We have done, and are continuing to do, everything humanly possible to get us reopened. We are hopeful that we will get the green light and can re-open sometime this month, but that will be decided by the Governor.
We are, and have been, preparing to reopen for live racing. Racing will be spectator- free for the foreseeable future until public healthcare officials agree that it is safe to allow the normal resumption of our business and allow large public gatherings.
Horsemen should keep in mind that nearly 70% of our purse monies come from our share of the VLT revenues from the State’s casinos and the remaining 30% from pari-mutuel handle from all sources. We have already received our share of the VLT revenues from the State for the period until the Governor ordered the casinos to close on March 15. We think it is safe to assume that we will not derive any revenue for purses from the casinos for many months.
As of today, the amount available in the purse account for purses when we reopen for live racing is approximately $3.2 million, and this will only be replenished and hopefully increased when we resume live racing. When we do, we will be totally dependent upon generating pari-mutuel handle until the casinos reopen.
The MTHA is actively working with MJC right now to plan a racing schedule that recognizes the realities of our current situation and for the foreseeable future that most benefits our racing community. We are planning to hit the ground running as soon as we get the green light to commence live racing.
#2 – What restrictions will be in place when we are permitted to run again?
We have provided extensive protocols to the Governor as a condition of our being allowed to reopen. We will be implementing aggressive social distancing and other procedures intended to limit or prevent the possible spread of COVID until we phase back to normal.
Most of the protocols have already been adopted and followed by our horsemen with no issues. We will be operating with essential personnel only much like the last weekend of live racing in mid-March.
MJC will be publishing these protocols soon so everyone is prepared; however, there in nothing shocking in these rules or nothing our horsemen can’t do to get back to racing.
#3 – Will all Maryland horses be permitted to run?
Initially, entries only from Maryland-based horses will be accepted. There will be no ship-ins permitted from outside the State nor jockeys permitted from other tracks to ride.
#4 – What is the new Waiver Claim rule?
The MTHA Board and MJC have agreed to implement a temporary program designed to assist owners when racing resumes.
Horses that have not run since March 15—the last day of racing at Laurel before the COVID-19 shutdown—may enter a claiming race and waive the claiming price if the horse is entered for a claiming price not less than the claiming price for its last start.
For instance, if a horse raced for a $16,000 tag and is entered in a claiming race with a price of $16,000 or higher, the owner can opt to waive the claiming price.
The rule is only applicable for a horse’s first start back and for a period of 90 days beginning on the first day live racing resumes in Maryland.
This is a small, reasonable thing that can be done to help horsemen who have been struggling for the last two months.
We’ll leave it in place for 90 -days until things get back to normal.
#5 – What is the 10% Trainer Commission program?
The MTHA Board unanimously voted to implement a voluntary 10% Trainer Commission program, which permits the automatic deduction by the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper of the standard 10% gross commission for trainers from all starters that finish first, second or third in all overnight and stakes races after purses are released.
The hope is that the program, like the one by which jockeys are paid, helps get money to trainers more expeditiously, especially during this difficult economic period.
Trainers must enroll in this program in advance with MTHA. Details are on our website.
This is like other programs in place at Delaware Park, Oaklawn and Monmouth Park that work great.
#6 – When will be see a condition book?
This will be available in the next few days and in the hands of horsemen well in advance of live racing.
#7 – What about the Backstretch Pension signups?
We will offer an educational webinar on Tuesday, May 12, to explain procedures necessary to sign up for the Maryland Backstretch Pension Program this year.
The webinar will be held from 2-3 p.m. To register, click here.
Virtual sign-ups are necessary this year because of ongoing physical-distancing requirements. Along with registration, online transmission of applications and tax documents such as Form W2s or 1099s, the MTHA is setting up backstretch collection boxes to obtain forms and documents from backstretch workers.
The MTHA Board earlier this year continued to affirm its support for the Backstretch Pension Program when it approved an increase in pension funding to $900,000/yr from $750,000/yr.
#8 – Where can I get help?
The MTHA office has been working tirelessly helping horsemen with a myriad of concerns from financial to health-related, etc. If you need assistance, we can help. Please reach out to us.
If you have any other questions, remember we are always accessible and ready to help. You can call the MTHA office or email your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
