Slots fail for another year, furthering erosion of Maryland breeding farms.

If a disaster with the force of Hurricane Katrina had struck Maryland’s Thoroughbred breeding farms, leaders in the state capital would likely have responded with immediate aid. Instead, breeders are faced with a “slow and painful erosion,” in the words of Maryland Horse Breeders Association executive director Cricket Goodall, “which is almost worse.”

Maryland’s breeding farms are experiencing stepped-up competition from surrounding states, in particular Pennsylvania where slots are expected to begin bolstering purses this coming fall. The impact, predictably, is being felt not only by farm operators, but by farriers and veterinarians and feed companies, and many others whose livelihood depends on the state’s Thoroughbred breeding industry.

And yet, for yet another year, Maryland’s legislature has failed to deal successfully with the slots issue. This year’s Maryland General Assembly adjourned on April 10 without coming close to agreement on any sort of plan that would introduce expanded gaming.
Obviously, it is a political issue involving far more than the horse industry. And the political environment could change dramatically, with statewide elections coming up this fall that will determine the major players in Annapolis for the next four years.

The gravity of the situation, meanwhile, continues to increase. If help does not come soon, it truly will be too late for many whose businesses depend on breeding and raising Thoroughbreds in Maryland.