by Tom LaMarra

The Maryland Racing Commission (MRC) on Thursday (March 23) approved a 48-night race meet at Casino at Ocean Downs this year from June 11-Sept. 4.

For the most part, live racing will be offered Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week with first post time set for 7:05 p.m. Officials said the schedule is similar to that of 2016.

The meet will feature a full slate of Maryland Standardbred Race Fund stakes and Maryland Sire Stakes.

In other business, the MRC recognized Sharon Roberts, executive vice president of the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners’ Association, (CSOA) for 20 years of service. Roberts helped lead the organization through a difficult period in which Rosecroft Raceway was in bankruptcy and shuttered for a few years before its purchase by Penn National Gaming Inc.

The harness industry has bounced back in recent years given its 20 percent share of the Purse Dedication Account, which is funded by casino video lottery terminal revenue. The Maryland Jockey Club, which now owns and operates Rosecroft after its sale by PNGI in 2016, this year added racing dates at the Washington, D.C.-area track to bring the total to 60 spread over the spring and fall.

CSOA president Thomas Cooke told the MRC that Roberts is moving on, and that he “expresses thanks for her 20 years of dedication, service and outreach for the Standardbred industry in Maryland.”

Cooke said Roberts most recently was instrumental in working on a life insurance policy for horsemen and developing a retirement plan.

“It has been a pleasure,” Roberts told the MRC. “I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ll miss seeing you guys, but I’ll be around.”

Roberts is the wife of longtime Maryland horseman William “Bib” Roberts, who continues to train and recently drove one of his trotters to victory at Rosecroft. Their son, Jonathan, is a top driver at tracks in Maryland and Delaware.