by Cheri Stambaugh, for the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund

Berlin, MD — The Casino at Ocean Downs hosted the Maryland Sire Stake preliminaries this week and many people questioned the lack of horses as five of the seven races were walkovers.

As most people know, the breeding industry is a three-year cycle from conception until that owner has a 2-year-old race horse and during the 2010 breeding season Maryland only had one track racing a short meet and the casinos had not opened yet.

In 2010 only 20 mares were bred to Maryland sires, resulting in 10 live foals which are the 2-year-olds reaping the benefits of gaming enhanced purses.

Just like the owners, trainers and drivers, the Maryland breeders looked to the states with programs enhanced by gaming dollars and the few small breeders in the state with family farms they did not want to sell are the ones enjoying the benefits way ahead of anyone else.

The good news for Maryland racing is that early estimates show more than 125 mares bred in 2013 and the better news is that in 2014 the Maryland Sire Stakes will add 4- and 5-year-old races and this year the breeders and stallion owners will see an increase in the amount they receive in year-end awards.

This week’s winners included 2-year-old trotting filly Ruby Rayne (Doggone Yankee), owned by Dale Massey and trained, driven and bred by William Long; Doc Banning (You Betcha), a 2-year-old colt trotter owned by Sharon Roberts, trained by W. Bib Roberts and driven by Jonathan Roberts. Tom and Linda Winebrener were the breeders; Michael Hans is the owner and breeder of 2-year-old filly pacer Coming Out On Top (Cam’s Rocket), Richard Hans is the trainer and Jim Morand was the reinsman; the 2-year-old colt pacer was Spinout (Spun Out), Gary Humphreys is the owner and co-breeder along with Dan Myer. William Long was in the bike giving him the driving double.

Elam Petersheim is the owner, trainer and driver of the 3-year-old gelding trotter Perfect Tententen (Straight Up Lindy), while Meadow Creed Stables LLC is the breeder; Bonnie Ben Jamin (Cam’s Rocket) showed her usual skill in the field of five 3-year-old filly pacers. winning by five lengths over Romantic Escape for owner Brian Emerson. Judy Welty trains and Jim Morand was the driver; It was no surprise when Fire Cracker Freddy (Cam’s Rocket) and his stablemate Yippi Ki Yeah were one–two at the wire in the 3-year-old colt pace as that was the way they finished in 2012. Frank Milby drove for owner/trainer /breeder Roger Hans.

Maryland Sire Stakes continue July 29 and Aug. 1 with Summer finals at the Casino at Ocean Downs.