Maryland-Bred Enhancements See Major Gains In Recent Years

Maryland-bred financial enhancements have increased a substantial 207.9% since 2012, fueled by VLT contributions and enhanced by meaningful contributions from the Thoroughbred Purse Account. 

According to statistics, most of which were published by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred in its March issue, Maryland-bred enhancements in 2017 in Maryland totaled $10.41 million compared with $3.38 million in 2012, the last year all contributions came from the Maryland-Bred Race Fund exclusively (see chart). 

Beginning in 2013, the MTHA Board authorized supplemental contributions from the Purse Account to state-bred incentives, and through last year had provided a total of $10.98-million to the program.

The Maryland Bred Race Fund currently funds the following Maryland-Bred enhancements: state-bred stakes, breeder awards, stallion awards and Maryland Million purses. 

Conversely, the Thoroughbred Purse Account has been supplementing the program by fully funding Maryland-Bred owner bonuses and restricted allowance purses.

Across-the-board increases in purses and breeder incentives in Maryland began in 2011, a year after the first casino opened in the state. 

Overall, the Purse Dedication Account created under the gaming law provides 80% of the total to Thoroughbred racing and 20% to Standardbred racing. The Thoroughbred industry’s share is then split 89% to the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account and 11% to Maryland-Bred Race Fund. However, if you factor in the contributions authorized by MTHA to state-bred development, this ratio shifts to 79.5% / 20.4%.

According to a historical review that goes back to 1991, Maryland breeding incentives hit their low point in 2009, when all categories totaled $2.08 million, down 46% from 1991. Since 2009—because of growth in VLT revenue and contributions from the MTHA’s share—breeding incentives have increased 400%.

In 2017, Maryland  restricted stakes totaled $1.07 million and breeder awards hit $4.08 million, the highest ever. Stallion awards totaled $592,715, Maryland Million purse contributions $286,495, and owner bonuses $3 million.

The MTHA in 2016 agreed to fund some Maryland-bred allowance races from the Thoroughbred Purse Account, which last year totaled $1.37 million. For 2017, total contributions from the Thoroughbred Purse Account for state bred development reached $4.38 million.

In Maryland, owner bonuses are 30% of the share of the purse earned by registered Maryland-bred runners in the state who finish first, second and third in non-restricted overnight races. Breeder awards (30%) and stallion awards (10%) are paid for first-, second- and third-place finishes in any race in Maryland.

The Maryland-bred Race Fund ultimately falls under the direction of the Maryland Racing Commission. In 1962, the state created the Maryland-Bred Race Fund Advisory Committee to oversee the program. The Committee consists of five members appointed to one-year terms by the Commission with the approval of the Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Two members represent the Maryland Horse Breeders’ Association, one represents Maryland Jockey Club, and one represents Timonium.

According to the MRC, the Maryland-bred Race Fund is apportioned between purses for races involving Maryland-bred horses and payments to breeders as stallion and breeder awards, as well as to owners of Maryland-bred horses.”

Download recent statistical history of Maryland-bred enhancements