MEDIA ADVISORY: Maryland Horse Industry Board to Honor Eight Maryland Championship Racers

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 27, 2012) – The Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) will host a “Night of Maryland Horse Racing Champions” to recognize eight national championship racing horses in four different racing disciplines — each of which were raised, trained or owned by Marylanders. The event is designed to showcase the diversity and success of Maryland’s horse industry, the many disciplines it encompasses and the prominent place it holds on the national level. During the event, harness, Arabians, steeplechase and Thoroughbred racers will be presented with the MHIB’s Touch of Class Award, which recognizes the many Maryland horses and people who achieve national and international prominence. The MHIB is a program of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Champions to be honored include:

1. Rapid Redux, thoroughbred gelding, and his owner Robert Cole, Jr., a Baltimore County native and Howard County resident. Rapid Redux has won 22 consecutive races, including a perfect 19-for-19 season in 2011.
2. Roll with Joe, a standardbred colt who was recently named the U.S. Three-Year-old Pacer of the Year. He was bred and raised at Winbak Farm in Cecil County.
3. GooGoo GaaGaa, a standardbred colt who set a world’s record in August for a mile by a trotter and is undefeated in six lifetime starts. He was bred, owned and trained by Richard Hans of Carroll County.
4. Irvin S. Naylor, Champion U.S. Steeplechase Owner originally from Baltimore County. Mr. Naylor maintains Still Water Farm and Training Center in Baltimore County.
5. Tom Voss, Champion U.S. Steeplechase Trainer who operates Atlanta Hall Farm in Harford County. This is the fifth year he has been named the nation’s leading steeplechase trainer.
6. Bon Caddo, Champion U.S. Timber Horse, owned by Charles and Barbara Noell of Harford County and trained by Dawn Williams of Belmont Farm in Baltimore County.
7. Golden Odessy*, a Harford County filly nominated for U.S. Champion 3-Year-Old Arabian Racing Filly.
8. Dixies Valentine*, a Champion Arabian 3- and 4 year-old Filly of the Year and nominated as U.S. Champion Older Arabian Racing Mare.

*Golden Odessy and Dixies Valentine are owned by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi who has trained and stabled his world class Arabians at Rigbie Farm in Harford County for 20 years.

What:     A Night of Maryland Horse Racing Champions, hosted by the MD Horse Industry Board
When:    6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Where:   Sports Legend Museum at Camden Yards, Baltimore

The event is free and open to the public, however, attendees must RSVP by March 13 to Ross Peddicord at 410-841-5798.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES who plan to cover the event should RSVPs to Vanessa Orlando at orlandva@mda.state.md.us or 410-841-5889; or Julie Oberg at obergja@mda.state.md.us or 410-841-5888.