Skip to Content Accessibility Information

Minutes of Public Meeting - January 19, 2016

Commission Members Present:

John P. McDaniel, Chairman
Tammy Lafferty
David Hayden
Bruce Quade
Tom Winebrener
Dr. Thomas Bowman
Ernest Grecco
Charles Tildon
Mary Louise Preis

Members Absent:
 

Staff Present Representing the Maryland Racing Commission:

J. Michael Hopkins

Executive Director
Eric B. London
Assistant Attorney General

In accordance with the Notice of Public Meeting, as required by State Government Article, §10-506, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Racing Commission (“Commission”) met in open session on January 19, 2016 commencing at 12:30 p.m. at Laurel Park, Laurel, Maryland. Chairman McDaniel called the meeting to order and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

Minutes – December 15, 2015.

The Commission waived a reading of the minutes of its December 15, 2015 meeting and voted unanimously to approve them.

Medication Policy And Review Committee.

Chairman McDaniel commented that he appointed Commissioner Bowman to Chair a Medication Policy and Review Committee along with Commissioners Hayden and Winebrener. Chairman McDaniel asked the Committee to review the Association of Racing Commissioners International recommended penalties and guidelines and the Maryland Racing Commission’s rules and regulations regarding medication and penalties. Chairman McDaniel requested an initial report back to the Commission at its next meeting in February. Commissioner Bowman commented that he expected the results of the committee’s review to provide greater transparency in responding to future medication infractions. Further, he noted that the current system may not be broken, but needed to be fully explained to the industry for there to be confidence in the system.

Regulation 09.10.03 - Final Adoption GABA.

The Commission was informed that regulation 09.10.03.03-1 creating a permissive threshold for Gama Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) had been published in the Maryland Register for the required public comment period and having not received any comment, the regulation would require final adoption by the Commission. Hearing no objection, the Commission unanimously approved the regulation for final adoption.

Maryland Jockey Club.

The Commission was provided with a request from the Maryland Jockey Club asking for reimbursement of qualified funds from the Racing Facility Redevelopment Fund for three projects: 1) Laurel Park Phase 0, which consisted of number of items including grading and sediment control for $1,075,210.00; 2) Barn 2 at Laurel Park for $382,206.00; and 3) construction of wash stalls at Laurel for $531,591.00. The Commission unanimously approved each request individually, without objection. The Maryland Jockey Club provided the Commissioners with an overview of the successful 2015 racing year, explaining that field sizes grew, which generated more revenue. The Maryland Jockey Club also advised that the new Monday schedule in 2016 (although with a small sample size) is also showing an economic benefit.

December VLT Report.

Executive Director J. Michael Hopkins presented the Commission members with a report indicating the total revenue generated by the Video Lottery Terminals for purses since wagering began in 2011. Through December 2015, the Video Lottery Terminals have generated in excess of $143,000,000.00 for the horse racing industry.

Public Comment.

Chairman John McDaniel stated that he would like to see an educational component to the Commission meetings. Commissioner Pries commented that she would like to have a better understanding of the off-shore wagering issues.

Executive Director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, David Richardson, reported that the health care system put in place with the cooperation of the Med Star Hospital group has been working effectively and has provided health care to over 200 patients since its inception early in the Fall of 2015.

Veterinarian Carol Swamby commented that people on the backside of Laurel Park have the impression that trainers whose horse test positive are not treated the same as other individuals and that the Medication Committee appointed by the chairman should review that aspect very carefully. She also expressed her concern that there was not a quality assurance program in place for Truesdail Laboratory and that Maryland has not sent any samples to other laboratories to confirm the results of Truesdail, as was done in the state of Indiana. Dr. Swamby also commented that there were a number of Lasix overages. Executive Director J. Michael Hopkins responded that the Commission had created a system to have cleared specimens reanalyzed at an independent laboratory. Mr. Hopkins also responded by stating that Truesdail continues to meet and retain its various accreditations through quality control samples and blind samples. Mr. Hopkins also stated that during calendar year 2015 there was only one Lasix overage, which is contrary to the assertions made by Dr. Swamby.

Next Commission Meeting.

The next Commission meeting will be held on February 16, 2016 in the Clubhouse at Laurel Park, Laurel, MD 20725.

Executive Session.

At 1:45 P.M. the Commission voted to go into Executive Session to discuss confidential commercial information regarding a “Request For Proposal” for Insurance Broker Services that would manage the Maryland Jockey Injury Compensation Fund. At 2:30 P.M., the Commission reconvened into open session and adjourned the public meeting.

J. Michael Hopkins
Executive Director