{"id":4780,"date":"2013-05-15T10:00:08","date_gmt":"2013-05-15T10:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/?p=4780"},"modified":"2013-05-15T14:06:10","modified_gmt":"2013-05-15T18:06:10","slug":"three-maryland-equestrians-receive-mda-touch-of-class-awards-from-triple-crown-winning-jockey-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mda\/press-release\/2013\/05\/15\/three-maryland-equestrians-receive-mda-touch-of-class-awards-from-triple-crown-winning-jockey-owner\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Maryland Equestrians Receive MDA Touch of Class Awards from Triple Crown Winning Jockey, Owner"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Thoroughbred<\/a>

Thoroughbred trainer Graham Motion talks with Secretariate’s owner Penny Chenery. Photo by Val D’Ambrosio<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

ANNAPOLIS, MD \u2013 It has been 40 years since the legendary thoroughbred Secretariat won the Triple Crown, and the Maryland Horse Industry Board (MHIB) \u2013 a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture — celebrated the anniversary by presenting Touch of Class Awards to three outstanding Maryland equestrians during a VIP reception at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring yesterday. More than 200 people attended the reception, which was sponsored by the Maryland Jockey Club and MHIB<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Preakness Stakes is a great event. Secretariat\u2019s Triple Crown is a great moment in history. And the three Touch of Class Award recipients we honor tonight are great ambassadors for our State and the equine industry,\u201d said Deputy Agriculture Secretary Mary Ellen Setting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The MHIB established the Touch of Class Award in 2011 to honor Maryland horses, individuals, teams, organizations or events that demonstrate the highest standards of excellence in Maryland\u2019s horse industry. The three Touch of Class recipients honored were:<\/span><\/p>\n