The Maryland Racing Commission at its Sept. 5 meeting gave initial approval to proposed regulatory changes regarding the Maryland Sires Stakes and Maryland Standardbred Race Fund programs.

The changes were submitted to the MRC after a series of meetings held by the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund Advisory Committee earlier this year. Some of the regulations, which must go through the statutory approval process, hadn’t been changed for decades.

The recommended changes for the most part deal with fees, breeder awards, and purse distribution schedules. The official document will be submitted to the Maryland Register and will be subject to a comment period before final approval.

With one more program remaining during the 2023 Ocean Downs Casino meet — Sept. 6, featuring four MSS finals for 2-year-olds — Bobbi Jones, the track’s interim general manager, said the season was largely a success.

Pari-mutuel handle on the live product up to the final program was up about $900,000, or 9.5 percent, from 2022, and about 70 percent of the horses that competed were Maryland-owned or -bred, Jones said. The only metric that didn’t show growth was on-track wagering on the live product, she said.

After the Ocean Downs meet ends, live harness racing in Maryland shifts to Rosecroft Raceway beginning Tuesday (Sept. 19). Racing will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays most weeks through Dec. 21 with a 7:15 p.m. first post time.