Maryland Million News for 2004

Maryland Million Ltd

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MARYLAND MILLION TO INCREASE PURSES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Timonium, MD – December 23, 2004) The Maryland Million Day purses will be increased by $300,000 for the 2005 event. In addition to the event day purse hike there will be another $300,000 spent on other racing opportunities next year. With this increase the Maryland Million program is the richest state sire stakes program in the country. Modeled after the Breeders’ Cup, the Maryland Million program is designed to promote Maryland stallions, and to reward the people who breed to those stallions.

The 2005 event is scheduled to be the highlight of the fall racing season, and will showcase the new courses at Laurel Park. It will be a great 20th anniversary celebration, complete with more purse money. “Our goal for many years has been to be the Maryland Millions,” said Mike Pons, president of Maryland Million Ltd., “and we are on our way with this additional purse money in 2005.”

The nomination deadline for foals and stallions is December 31st. A fee of $600 is due for yearlings (2003 foals), or the last option of $1,500 due by May 31, 2005. The fee of $250 is due to fully nominate the foals of 2004. The same deadline applies for nominating stallions so that foals conceived during the 2005 breeding season are eligible to the program. The stallion nomination fee is equal to the advertised stud fee with a minimum of $500.

For more information or nomination forms please contact

The Maryland Million office at (410) 252-2100 or MarylandMillion.com

Maryland Million moves toward new heights

Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has signed into law a bill that is expected to boost the Maryland Million to unprecedented heights.

The bill, voted overwhelming approval by both the Senate and the House of Delegates in the 2004 legislative session, directs a portion of revenue from in-state wagering on Maryland races toward Maryland Million purses.

“Hopefully, we’ll be talking about a Maryland Two Million in the near future,” said MHBA president William K. Boniface. “The impact on Maryland’s stallion market could be tremendous.”
Key support for the legislation came from Harford County legislators Senator J. Robert Hooper (R, Distr. 35) and Delegate Barry Glassman (R, Distr. 35A).

“We are deeply grateful to Sen. Hooper, his aide Scott Gibson, and Del. Glassman,” said Boniface. “Given an opportunity to strengthen the Thoroughbred breeding business, they immediately stepped forward, and worked hard to secure the passage of this legislation.”