Minutes of Public Meeting - Wednesday, September 9, 2026

TIME: 12:30 PM

PLACE: Laurel Park, Tycoons Lounge

PRESENT: Chairwoman Nicole Earle
Commissioner Tammy Lafferty
Commissioner Bobby Lillis (Virtual)
Commissioner Kirsten Green
Commissioner Ellen Zavian
Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Wright (Virtual)
Commissioner John Burke
Commissioner George Mahoney
Commissioner Shawn Wright (Virtual)

ABSENT: None

STAFF: Executive Director Christopher Merz
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Sigman

OTHERS: Bill Knauf, The Maryland Jockey Club
Lisa Watts, Rosecroft Raceway
Cricket Goodall, Maryland Horse Breeders
Secretary Kevin Atticks, Department of Agriculture
Kathy Rosenberger, Stable Footing

In accordance with § 3-302, General Provisions Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the Maryland Racing Commission (“Commission” or “MRC”) met in person and by the Google Meet platform in open session at 12:30 p.m. at Laurel Park. Chairwoman Nicole Earle took a roll call of the Commission members and confirmed there was a quorum.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 12, 2026

Executive Director Merz informed the Commission that he made an error regarding the dates of the minutes and that it would be corrected. The Commission waived a reading of the minutes of its meeting on August 12, 2026. Chairwoman Earle asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Zavian made the motion. Commissioner Green seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

MARYLAND HORSE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE BY SECRETARY KEVIN ATTICKS

Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks gave an update to the Commissioner regarding the Horse Strategic Plan that has been ongoing since November 2025. Secretary Atticks noted that this was the first time all horse sectors were able to get into one room to come up with a plan on how to move the whole horse industry forward. A common theme throughout his update was that the horse industry is a critical part of Maryland’s history, agriculture and future. Secretary Atticks told the Commission that the report was finalized and was officially sent to the Governor on September 1, 2026, as outlined by the executive order.

Secretary Atticks highlighted a few items in the report:

Unified Voice: Secretary Atticks said that the report recommends that the industry speak as one unified voice rather than be fragmented. This would strengthen the PR for the industry and government relations.

Workforce Development: Secretary Atticks noted a critical shortage of large animal and rural veterinarians was discovered while creating the report. The plan calls on an agricultural literacy program in schools to build a long-term youth pipeline.

Structural Coordination: Secretary Atticks noted that the report identified that the Maryland Racing Commission and Maryland Horse Industry Board should work more closely together moving forward. Although they have been working closely for the past year and a half, the Committee members identified that these two groups should work more closely together and collaborate together.

Commissioner Zavian asked if the plan had any deadlines to complete certain items. Secretary Atticks said that the report makes recommendations and does not establish deadlines. He said that some items in the report are already being worked on and that it is a living document that the horse industry can use as a benchmark and blueprint moving forward.

Chairwoman Earle asked if there would be continued meetings regarding the report. Secretary Atticks suggested that once the report is made public, the Department of Agriculture will encourage groups to form and implement some of the recommendations. He stressed that this will not be a report that just sits on a shelf.

Commissioners Green, Mahoney and Lillis thanked Secretary Atticks for his leadership on the report and looked forward to reading it.

APPROVAL OF OTB PERMITS

Executive Director Merz told the Commission he received a request from The Maryland Jockey Club to approve the OTB Permits. Mr. Merz noted that he received proper paperwork for the OTB renewals as required under COMAR 09.10.05.09. Mr. Merz read the nine OTB locations allowed and confirmed he received the notarized affidavits on August 20, 2026, confirming that simulcast agreements and compliance with all state laws and Commission regulations were being upheld.

Chairwoman Earle asked for a motion to approve the OTB Permits. Commissioner Lafferty made the motion. Commissioner Mahoney seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

FINANCIAL REVEIW

Executive Director Merz informed the Commission that he had received audits from the racetracks required by Maryland Code, Title 11, Business Regulation 11-313. Mr. Merz noted that he had sent the audits to the Department of Labor accounting team and that they did not find anything alarming with the audits.

Mr. Merz asked the Commission to vote on approving the audits.

Commissioner Zavian expressed concern that the Commission was not given enough time to look through the audits and mentioned she had some concerns over some of the items she saw. She encouraged the Commission to table the item for the Commissioners to have more time to look through the audits.

Chairwoman Earle asked for a motion to table the audit approval for another Commission meeting. Commissioner Zavian made the motion. Commissioner Green seconded. Commissioner Mahoney opposed the motion. Commissioners Lillis, Wright, Dr. Wright, Lafferty, and Burke voted in favor of the motion. Commissioner Mahoney voted against the motion. The motion passed by majority vote, and the audit approval was tabled for another Commission meeting.

ROSECROFT RACEWAY REQUEST TO AMEND 2026 CALENDAR

Executive Director Merz informed the Commission that he received a request from Lisa Watts of Rosecroft Raceway to amend the Rosecroft Fall Calendar. The request was to move the Potomac Pace Invitational from Sunday, November 1, 2026 to Sunday, November 8, 2026. The request mentioned that moving the race was being done to better align with what was happening in the region during this time.

Chairwoman Earle asked for a motion to approve the request for Rosecroft Raceway to Amend the 2026 Fall Racing Calendar. Commissioner Lafferty made the motion. Commissioner Burke seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

ROSECROFT RACEWAY UPDATE

Lisa Watts gave an update on Rosecroft Raceway. Ms. Watts informed the Commission that the Rosecroft meet was starting again on Monday September 14, 2026. She said qualifiers for opening day were being done this week. She was excited to report that Rosecroft is gearing up for Maryland Showcase of Champions night on Sunday, October 11, where the track would be giving out $800,000 in purse money. This event was brought back this year after several years of a hiatus. She thanked the Commission for approving the move of the Potomac Pace from Sunday, November 1, to Sunday, November 8, to better align with races and sales the harness industry will be having around that time.

THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB UPDATE

Bill Knauf gave the Commission an update for The Maryland Jockey Club. Mr. Knauf reminded the Commission of the NBC deal that was signed for the Preakness media rights for the next six years. He reported that the Preakness would be moved back one week and the race would be moved to Sunday. For the next four of the six years of the contract, the race will be run on Memorial Day weekend. Mr. Knauf reported that the construction of Pimlico was going well. Barns on the backside were up and now have a roof over them. He also reported to the Commission that the stake barns are up, and the tunnel to the infield had been covered. Mr. Knauf concluded his report by telling the Commission about upcoming events and handicapping tournaments.

Commissioner Mahoney asked Mr. Knauf about the plans to revitalize the Laurel Park backside and how many horses were currently stabled on the grounds.

Mr. Knauf told the Commission that they currently have around 950 horses on the backside, which aligns with the number they had at this time in 2025. He said the Maryland Stadium Authority will start sitting down with stakeholders within the next month to start talking about the Laurel Park redesign and what to prioritize.

EQUINE MEDICAL DIRECTOR REPORT

Equine Medical Director Dr. Daniel gave the report. She told the Commission that it had been a safe summer. She reported that there were two training fatalities and one fatality due to complications from colic. She reported zero injuries for the Timonium meet that concluded the week prior.

Dr. Daniel continued her report by giving an overview of an externship program that the Commission participated in. Two veterinarian students participated in a two week externship that followed the Commission veterinarians and private veterinarians. She said the students were very impressive, and one student was going to continue their study on the equine path.

She concluded her report by thanking Commission veterinarian Dr. Annie Renzetti for her work with standardbreds at the Rosecroft and Ocean Downs race meet. She said that Dr. Renzetti is hard at work a forming a database for standardbreds that is like what is used for thoroughbreds. It is the first of its kind in harness racing.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Cricket Goodall, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, talked about the upcoming Maryland Million running on Saturday, October 24. She concluded by saying pre-entries for the race are due October 11, with a draw party scheduled for October 18th.

Kathy Rosenberger, Stable Footing, talked about her charitable organization that helps backstretch workers that have retired from racing. Her organization is just getting started and they are working hard to get donations and working with the racetrack chaplain to identify anyone that has fallen between the cracks. She spoke about a racetrack reunion taking place on April 18th of 2027. She noted that last year 120 people attended.

Hearing no other comments, Chairwoman Earle asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Green made the motion. Commissioner Lafferty seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

s/Nicole Earle/s