Generous stewards and harness judges in Maryland for the first time have the power to hand out more fines and longer suspensions under proposed changes to the state’s racing rules published in the Maryland Register this week.
The Maryland Racing Commission is seeking to increase the maximum fines stewards and judges can receive from $2,500 to $10,000, and raise the maximum suspension from 90 days to two years. Cases with more serious penalties would still be referred to the full Commission.
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The commission also proposes to increase its maximum fine from $5,000 to $25,000 and explicitly increase license revocations.
“The terms and conditions of the suspension have not been updated in ten years,” said Dinah Winnick, director of communications for the Maryland Department of Labor. “The proposed changes to the Maryland Racing Commission are more consistent with the current regulatory environment and provide a stronger deterrent to violating the state’s horsemanship rules.”
Winnick said the proposals are part of an effort to modernize Maryland’s regulations and apply them to current industry practices and regulations in neighboring states.
Exchanges would apply to both noble and Standardbred racing. Maryland’s racecourse is also subject to the Integrity and Safety Authority’s course safety and anti-doping rules, with the latter administered by the Integrity & Safety Unit. HISA does not cover Standardbred racing.
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The proposed regulations also include changes to the appeals process, including more detailed standards and penalties for frivolous appeals, a prohibition on discovery in Commission hearings, and provisions to recognize disciplinary actions taken in other career jurisdictions.
Proposals open for public comment through Nov. 2.
This story was first published by Paulick Report on the 9th of October News section Add the Paulck Report as Preferred Source by clicking here.