ON EVE OF 136TH PREAKNESS, GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO VISIT FAIR HILL TRAINING CENTER
Governor will wish Derby winner ‘Animal Kingdom’ well, promote horse industry a day after signing legislation that preserves next year’s racing season
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 19, 2011) – On the eve of the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes, and a day after signing legislation that preserves next year’s racing calendar and thousands of jobs associated with Maryland’s horse industry, Governor Martin O’Malley will visit Cecil County’s Fair Hill Training Center. There, he will be lead on a private tour of Team Valor’s stable by trainer Graham Motion, where the Governor will wish Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdomwell as he prepares for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Following the stable tour, Governor O’Malley will discuss the future of horse racing in Maryland, and the importance of preserving horse related agriculture in our State.
The Maryland horse industry has assets totaling more than $5.6 billion, holds approximately 10 percent of Maryland’s land (587,000 acres), has twice as many horses per square mile as Virginia, Texas, California, or Kentucky and employs more than 28,000 people. There are more than 79,000 horses in Maryland valued at $714 million.
Yesterday, Governor O’Malley added his signature to legislation he sponsored which redistributes existing slots revenues to assist in the operations of Maryland’s racetracks, salvaging the racing season for next year and likely for 2013 as well, and preserving thousands of jobs associated with Maryland’s horse industry. Late last year, after negotiations between all parties had broken down, Governor O’Malley brokered a last-minute deal that preserved the 2011 racing calendar, helping to keep Maryland’s treasured Preakness Stakes where it belongs and protecting the more than 28,000 people who work in Maryland’s horse industry full time.
