The future of October’s Maryland 5-star eventing competition became even more of a question mark this week, after the state Division of Legislative Services discussed 2027 budget proposals before the state Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.
To insure that “new grants are not crowded out by large ongoing grants,” the department recommended that grants for the 5-star should be deleted for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
In November, it was projected that the state could have nearly a $1.5 billion shortfall for fiscal 2027. Maryland’s numerous financial issues include work involved with Pimlico and Laurel racetracks. The lottery fund backing stadium authority bonds is approaching its debt limit, and there is concern that the rebuild of Pimlico could push it over the line.
Asked what the U.S. Equestrian Federation is doing in regard to the 5-star, Chief of Sport David O’Connor said, “We are in conversations with them,” but noted news of the proposed funding slash “just came out.”
Maryland Sports Authority Chairman Craig Thompson has said “the plan is to move forward in October” with the 5-star. However, neither he nor MSA Executive Director Michael Frenz, who is retiring in April, have responded to requests for interviews. There has been no information about who could organize the 2026 5-star,, who would be on their team and where the money would come from to fund it.
The five-year-old Maryland 5-Star had received approximately $3 million annually from the state. This event also got money for capital improvements on state-owned Fair Hill property.
It also was recommended that funds for the 5-star be reduced by $1.75 million, with this explanation: “This is an ongoing subsidy for an economic development event that is crowding out the Major Sports and Entertainment Event Program Fund’s resources.
“Lottery coverage ratios are close to the minimum target, which is that net lottery revenues are at least 3.0 times lottery distributions. Anticipated additional debt service required for the Racing and Community Development Financing Fund is expected to put the coverage ratio at or below the target.”