Maryland Horse Council

2008 - The Maryland Slots Referendum

Legislative Policies and Positions

MHC Slots Legislation - Informational Brochure

Results of Written Poll of MHC Membership

In July of 2008, MHC polled all of its members as to whether members supported the proposed 2008 referendum to amend the Maryland constitution to allow for up to 15,000 Video Lottery Terminals at five locations. The results of the written poll were as follows:

Associations: 12 in support, none opposed
Businesses: 12 responded; 11 in support, one opposed
Farms: 25 responded, all in support
Individuals: 37 responded; 31 in support, 6 opposed

Results of the Vote of the MHC Board of Directors on August 19,2008

On August 19, 2008, the Board of Directors voted, via written ballots and acclamation, to support the proposed referendum to amend that Maryland constitution to allow for up to 15,000 Video Lottery Terminals. Currently, there are 51 Directors on the Board; 30 Directors voted, either by acclamation or by writing, in support of the proposed referendum. No Directors voted against the proposed referendum.

Member Associations, each of which has one seat on the Board of Directors, which voted in writing to support:

Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation, Inc.
Graham Equestrian Center, Inc.
Marlborough Hunt Club
Maryland Association of Equine Practitioners
Maryland Association of Wildlife Conservation
Maryland Combined Training Association
Maryland Horse Breeders Association
Maryland Jockey Club
Maryland State Quarter Horse Association
Plantation Walking Horses of Maryland
Trail Riders of Today (majority of members who responded to poll supported, but association as an institution can not take a lobbying position)
Tuckahoe Equestrian Center

Member Associations voting in support via the association’s representative present at the Aug. 19, 2008 meeting of the Board of Directors:

Howard County Horse Shows Association (represented to the BOD: Mary Anne Steele)
Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds (representative to the BOD: Crystal Kimball)
Maryland Steeplechase Association (representative to the BOD: Crystal Kimball)
Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assoc. (representative to the BOD: Christine Bricker)
New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds (representative to the BOD: Guillermo Warley)
Potomac Hunt Club (representative to the BOD: Monica Breland)

Officers & Directors at Large voting in support by writing:

For Farms: Billy Boniface
Director-at-Large For Farms: Helen Tuel
Director-at-Large For Individuals: Rob Burk

Officers & Directors at Large voting in support in person (some also in writing):

President: Mike Erskine
Vice President & Director-at-Large for Farms: Jane Seigler
Secretary, Director-at-Large for Business: Crystal Kimball
Treasurer & Director-at-Large for Business: Keith Wills
For Youth: Darryll-Ann Buschling
For Individuals: Amy Burk
For Individuals: Beverly Raymond
For Businesses: Liz Yewell
For Farms: Steuart Pittman

No member association or director-at-large voted in opposition.

Member Associations that neither voted in writing nor were present at the meeting to vote by acclamation, or were present and chose to not vote:

Carroll County Equestrian Council
Chesapeake Plantation Walking Horse Club
Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association
Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc.
Delmarva Driving Club
Elkridge Harford Hunt Club
Fair Hill International, Inc.
Humane Society of Carroll County
League of Maryland Horsemen
Maryland Equestrian Foundation
Maryland 4-H Program
Maryland Farriers Association
Maryland Horse Shows Association
Maryland Standardbred Breeders Association
Mid-Atlantic Saddlebred Association
Pasadena Horse & Pony Association
Potomac Valley Dressage Association
Ranger Foundation, Inc.
Washington International Horse Show, Inc.
Wicomico Hounds
Director-at-Large For Farms: Chrissy Keys Heard

For Maryland/For Our Future

For Maryland/For Our Future is the "official" site regarding the current slots effort. Click here to visit the site.

Ballot Language for Slots Referendum

Question 1 - Constitutional Amendment

(Chapter 513, Acts of 2007)

EARLY VOTING; POLLING PLACES; ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places inside or outside of their election districts or wards and to vote up to two weeks before an election. This amendment also authorizes the General Assembly to enact legislation to allow absentee voting by qualified voters who choose to vote by absentee ballot, in addition to voters who are absent at the time of the election or who are unable to vote personally.

(Amends Article 1, Sections 1 and 3 of the Maryland Constitution)

Question 2 - Constitutional Amendment

(Chapter 5, Acts of 2007 Special Session)

AUTHORIZING VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINALS (SLOT MACHINES) TO FUND EDUCATION

Authorizes the state to issue up to five video lottery licenses for the purpose of raising revenue for education of children in public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12, public school construction and improvements, and construction of capital projects at community colleges and higher education institutions. No more than a total number of 15,000 video lottery terminals may be authorized in the state, and only one license may be issued for each specified location in Anne Arundel, Cecil, Worcester, and Allegany Counties and Baltimore City. Any additional forms or expansion of commercial gaming in Maryland is prohibited, unless approved by a voter referendum.

(Enacts new Article XIX of the Maryland Constitution)

Latest News

Ballot Language for Slots Referendum

Synopsis of "Slots Legislation" [click here]

Slot Machines and the Racing Industry: A Review of Existing Data in Maryland and Neighboring States [click here]

News and Views You Can Use: Maryland Racing's Day in the Sun [click here]

Health of Racing Impacts all Mid-Atlantic Horse Owners [click here]

Senate Bill 3 (2007 Special Session) Maryland Educational Trust Fund - Video Lottery Terminals [click here]

House Bill 4 (2007 Special Session ) Video Lottery Terminals - Authorization and Limitations [click here]