The Maryland Horse Industry Board hosted a distinguished delegation of representatives from the European Union and Embassies of France, the Netherlands, and Portugal based in Washington, D.C., for a two-day tour of Maryland’s horse country.
Category: Announcements
Kentucky Proud Series draw Wednesday
The draw for the first Kentucky Proud Series races (fair racing) of the season will be Wednesday (May 20). The box will close at 9 a.m. Eastern time.
Rusty’s For Real, 22, dies
Fox Den Farm and the Maryland racing community mourns the passing of the remarkable Standardbred stallion Rusty’s For Real, who passed away Thursday (May 14) following a sudden cardiac event.
Etienne (Steve) Desomer, 89, dies
Longtime California horseman, Steve Desomer passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 after a brief illness. Steve a well-respected horseman with the California community, along with his wife, Vickie (Dunn) were the first inductees into the California Harness Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ronnie Foster, 79, dies
Ronnie “Duck” Gordon Foster, 79, passed away of cancer in his home on May 9, 2026, in Georgetown, Ky.
UPDATED: May stakes payment news center
The USTA has compiled the advisories provided by stakes administrators regarding upcoming nomination and sustaining payments for the races under their purview. Refer to this page for updates, as they are made available.
Ronald Coyne Sr., 85, dies
Ronald J. Coyne Sr., 85, lovingly known to all as “Pa” and “Whitey,” passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026.
Gofundme for Meadows’ horsemen Sal and Dina Digati niece in dire medical condition abroad
Erica Forsberg, the niece of Meadows’ horsemen Sal and Dina Digati, who last summer was diagnosed with Adrenocortical Carcinoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer of the adrenal gland, is stranded in Italy with double pneumonia and needs to return to her doctors in Pittsburgh as soon as possible.
William J. Solomon, VMD, 84, dies
New Freedom, PA – It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William Joseph (“Doc”) Solomon who died peacefully on May 5, 2026, at the age of 84. Doc…
John Kirkwood, 72, dies
John Henry Kirkwood, 72, of Berea, Ohio, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2026.