Baltimore, Md.—In a cooperative effort between the Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Maryland Jockey Club, an annual event has been created to recognize the best of Maryland racing and breeding from the previous year. The Maryland Thoroughbred Industry Renaissance Awards will be presented to the top Maryland owner, trainer and jockey, as well as the champion Maryland-breds of 2017, on Feb. 12 at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, the hotel located along the waterfront on Recreation Pier in historic Fell’s Point which opened last year to much fanfare.

Invitations to the Renaissance Awards have recently been mailed, and tickets may be purchased in the online store at MarylandThoroughbred.com. Ticket price is $150 per person, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit three local charities: Beyond the Wire - beyondthewire.org; Maryland Horse Industry Foundation - marylandhorseindustryfoundation.org; and Maryland horse industry scholarships.
The following are finalists in the award categories. The winners will be announced the evening of Feb. 12.

Award finalists (listed alphabetically)

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old male:  CLEVER MIND (bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC, owned by Richard L. Golden); V. I. P. CODE (bred by Everest Stables Inc., owned by Jeffrey L. Nielsen); WHIRLIN CURLIN (bred and owned by Marathon Farms Inc.)

Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old filly : ENCHANTED STAR (bred by Phyllis Browne, owned by Oak Tree Stable); LIMITED VIEW (bred by Barbara G. Smith, owned by John E. Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos and George Greenwalt); SOUTHAMPTON WAY (bred and owned by Sagamore Farm)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male: BONUS POINTS (bred by Country Life Farm, owned by Three Diamonds Farm); JUST HOWARD (bred by Howard M. Bender, owned by Skeedattle Associates); O DIONYSUS (bred by Dark Hollow Farm, owned by Marathon Farms Inc.)

Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old filly:  CRABCAKES (bred by Buckingham Farm, owned by Morgan’s Ford Farm); HAILEY'S FLIP (bred by Spendthrift Farm LLC, owned by Daniel C. Crowley); I'M BETTY G (bred by Carol Kaye and Boyce Stable, owned by Three Diamonds Farm)

Maryland-bred champion older male: BLU MOON ACE (bred by Howard M. Bender, owned by Robert L. Cole Jr.); IT'S THE JOURNEY (bred and owned by R. Larry Johnson); STRUTH (bred by Fitzhugh LLC, owned by Mark Sitlinger)

Maryland-bred champion older female:  EVERYTHING LOVELY (bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes, owned by Pewter Stable and Armand A. Dela­perriere); GINGER N RYE (bred and owned by Sagamore Farm); MY MAGICIAN (bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Brooke C. Bowman and R. Larry Johnson, owned by Euro Stable)
Maryland-bred champion sprinter:  BLU MOON ACE (bred by Howard M. Bender, owned by Robert L. Cole Jr.); CRABCAKES (bred by Buckingham Farm, owned by Morgan’s Ford Farm); STRUTH (bred by Fitzhugh LLC, owned by Mark Sitlinger)

Maryland-bred champion turf runner:  GINGER N RYE (bred and owned by Sagamore Farm); I'M BETTY G (bred by Carol Kaye and Boyce Stable, owned by Three Diamonds Farm); JUST HOWARD (bred by Howard M. Bender, owned by Skeedattle Associates)

Maryland-bred champion steeplechaser: BOOGIE BIZ (bred by Charles W. Walters Jr. and Elizabeth J. Valando, owned by Happenstance Stable and Harry Lebo); ON THE CORNER (bred by Henry T. Rathbun, owned by Ivy Hill Stable); SWOOP (bred and owned by Mary Voss)

Maryland-bred Horse of the Year:  BONUS POINTS (bred by Country Life Farm, owned by Three Diamonds Farm); CRABCAKES (bred by Buckingham Farm, owned by Morgan’s Ford Farm); JUST HOWARD (bred by Howard M. Bender, owned by Skeedattle Associates)

Owner of the Year:  Larry Johnson, Sagamore Farm, James Wolf
Trainer of the Year:  Claudio Gonzales, Kieron Magee, Mike Trombetta
Jockey of the Year:  Horatio Karamanos, Feargal Lynch, Jevian Toledo