| Running a horse farm in any era has never been a simple job.
In the basement storeroom of my parents’ house, I have read
letters written by my grandfather, Adolphe Pons, in 1942, shortly
after World War II began.
On yellowed onion-skin paper I relived worrisome moments of his
life as he wrote about a moratorium on California racing and nationwide
rationing of gasoline and tires. He was trying to collect payment
for some horses he’d sold and was worried about holding everything
together in perilous days.
At the time, he was running Country Life and two nearby crop farms.
His three sons and most of the local farm boys were serving in the
armed forces. He had already suffered one heart attack and was persevering
the best he knew how. For better or worse, my Dad and Uncle John
ran Country Life Farm after Grandfather died on Christmas Day, 1951.
Dad and Uncle John stepped somewhat aside on Christmas Day 1981
when my brother Josh and I were given the reins. Dad and Uncle John
were strong role models for me. They taught me to recognize quality
in people and horses, especially people who like horses. When I
look upon the present state of Maryland racing and breeding I have
to bite my tongue before speaking.
Many people neither know nor care enough about quality to make a
positive impact on our industry. They are not familiar with Maryland’s
heritage, tenacity and resourcefulness. Maryland was the first state
to have a breeders’ incentive program. The first Maryland
Fund race was run at now-defunct Bel Air race track in 1962. We
were the first to conduct a type of Breeders’ Cup Day with
our Maryland Million program.
The first running was in 1986. We were also the first state horse
industry to ask for and receive a grant from our legislature. We
received $10 million in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Despite all these firsts,
Maryland is losing ground in several critical areas. We have fallen
behind nearby states in numbers of stallions and mares bred, size
of our foal crop, size of our breeders’ fund and average daily
purse distribution.
The trends look ominous, and without action a crisis is certain.
In my travels I often hear praise and fond recollections of racing
and breeding in Maryland. An unspoken quality is part of the conversation.
Most of the words are in the past tense. Great racing has been enjoyed
by countless folks who continue to appreciate the Preakness, Maryland
Million, De Francis Dash and Pimlico Special. And they fondly remember
races no longer run, such as the Washington, D.C., International,
Selima Stakes and Laurel Futurity.
Our history of great racing, great horses, stallions, mares and
foals will be just history if we don’t stop to preserve the
quality. This is a Maryland way of life as wholesome as crabcakes
and Old Bay seasoning. Who will be the diminished if Maryland horse
racing and breeding no longer exist?
What is the cost of losing the horse industry in Maryland? How long
will the state turn its back on an industry that preserves 40,000
acres of farmland, generates nearly a billion dollars in economic
activity and employs 5,000 people, many of whom have devoted their
entire lives to the horse business?
Both inside and outside our industry, there are demons hurting Maryland
racing and breeding. Perhaps the greatest demon is the lack of consensus.
There is no single clear vision nor answer to our troubles. It is
difficult for farms and breeders to survive in this climate. Even
though we face a formidable foe, we must hold together and fight
as one. Members of my family have endured tough times and survived.
I believe as an industry we can survive. We must.
Michael Pons is president of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.
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