. . . And a Hearty Heigh-ho, Howard!! (Another Horse in the Hunt)

Perhaps it is the lively discussion about zoning bees in Howard County, but we feel as if we stirred up a major hive. Buzzing came fast and furious to our remarks about Prince George’s County and their pitch for the Maryland Horse Park.

According to the swarm, we quite unexpectedly stepped into a nutrient pile.

So, Equine Enthusiasts, in the spirit of fair play (which we always espouse at H2P) we will tell you about Howard County’s EARLIER (their emphasis) plans to be the home of a Maryland Horse Park.

Way back in 2007, the Howard County Council appointed a task force consisting of horse people along with county planning, agricultural and economic development officials, to study the prospects of a horse park and even suggest potential locations for it.

Opportunity Pops

We know Terry is always cultivating youth tournaments and special events when he goes to conferences. Well, this one came to him out of nowhere.

(OK, not really out of nowhere. Like many serendipitous meetings, they are prompted by long standing relationships. In this case, a fellow traveler on the sports circuit that Terry has known for years.)

About 100 Pop Warner organizers and officials were meeting in Baltimore this week and their Executive Director, Jon Butler, gave Terry a buzz.

Pop Warner is a national network of youth teams where academics and safety are as much a part of team building as sports skills. This year, they teamed up with First Lady Michelle Obama and the “Let’s Move” initiative to encourage activity and physical fitness among children.

Prospecting Prince George's

Terry spent a lot of time in Prince George’s (not nice to say PG) County panning for gold this past week. Prince George’s is home to some of the most outstanding venues in the state, including the largest capacity stadium in the NFL (Fed-Ex Field) with its adjoining youth sports and learning complex, and the many first rate Terp facilities in College Park.

Terry was touting these visitor magnets when he addressed county tourism leaders at their annual meeting last week. He also had the opportunity to spend time with top athletic department officials about using the Maryland campus for more outside activities.

(Pause for a shoutout to the Maryland Stadium
Authority who built the gorgeous Comcast Center in 2002)

Baltimore Grand Prix -- faster than the speed of light

Ticket sales are beyond turbo charged.  They're actually airborne, and zooming out the door.  We just received the weekly update from the Folks on Four (our BRD neighbors in the Warehouse) that 33,775 tickets have already been sold for the Labor Day Weekend races.

That's right -- the season, which kicks off in St. Petersburg next month, is still five weeks away and already the inaugural Baltimore event has sold 33,775 tickets.

Here's the breakdown:

The Baltimore Grand Prix has already sold 34% of its anticipated weekend attendance of 100,000.  The total reserved seating capacity is 23,506, with current seats sold on Sunday: 9,412 and 7,471 for Saturday.

That means 40% of available Sunday tickets and 32% of Saturday already gone.  And this is before a lot of local folks even get the chance to tune in and see how exciting this 17 event circuit is.

We understand tickets have been bought all over the country -- and the world -- by those passionate fans of open wheel and LeMans Series racing.  Once the countdown to Baltimore begins, we can only bet how much faster those seats are going to fly.

So don't be disappointed -- get yours now.

Time to Re-Lax at the Face-Off Classic

It's really hard to focus on lacrosse when there's still snow on the ground and in the forecast (as is the case today here at Camden Yards.) But we can't ignore that the season is already underway, rankings have been released, and the banners are hanging on Pratt Street. It's almost time for the Face-Off Classic, that early season triple header which has become a favorite of laxers of all ages.

Since its inception in 2007, the Face-Off Classic has featured match ups of the country's top teams. This year is no exception. Of the six teams competing, five are in the Press Box's Top 15, including Syracuse, Virginia and Cornell.

Speaking of Press Box, that's one of our favorite companions at the Turn Ten. The holiday and impending bad weather were a good reason for spending some quality time with both.

If you haven't seen the current issue, check out all the pre-season predictions and who to look for on March 12th. There is in depth analysis of the top teams and local favorites we'll be seeing this spring.

You'd better check out ticket availability, too. The good seats always go fast. This event is popular with families and youth leagues because there are so many kid-friendly activities to play and so many new products to see. With three local teams in the mix, that escalates the F&F (friends and family) factor, too.

Then, of course, there's the tailgating. Last year, there were still mountains of dirty snow piled around the lots with grills smoking between and coolers stashed in them.

This is only the beginning of the season, which will culminate again with the NCAA Men's Championship tournaments for D-I, II, and III at M&T over Memorial Day Weekend.

So it really must be spring, no matter what the calendar says. Before long, we should be hearing about another boffo sports event coming to our complex. And then, on Labor Day weekend, it will be the Baltimore Grand Prix zooming through our streets.

Forget the snow. Check out Press Box and get ready for the Lax invasion at Camden Yards.

Velo Marylanders, Unite !!! Bicycle Advocates Gear Up in Annapolis

Terry won't miss this one. The 14th Annual Maryland Bicycle Symposium is taking place in the Mike Miller Senate Office building on February 22nd. This gives cyclophiles the opportunity to schmooze legislators while discussing issues and swapping stories with fellow pedal pushers.

(And yes, this event actually draws participants from above the Mason-Dixon and across the Potomac.  Trails are an important recreational and quality of life amenity we share with our neighbors.)

The all day session includes advocates who bike for transportation or pedal for fitness and fun, activists who support trails as a lucrative source of tourism, and athletes/spectators who participate in the many popular triathlons, cyclocross, and gravity games which take place in our Mid-Atlantic region.

Commuters, recreational riders, event organizers and elected officials will discuss issues ranging from mountain bike trails to transportation planning and design to road-sharing and other safety issues.

It will be the opportunity for Terry to meet with yet another element of the cycling community. Maryland already has many wonderful cycling events, and Terry has been in talks for some time to bring a really big, televised professional event to showcase the entire state.

If you have any interest in cycling or trails, you should stop in to hear the discussion and see the displays. And keep an eye out for Terry. You'll find him in the middle of a conversation somewhere.

Surging Slopes --Maryland's X-treme Show in the Snow

Did you know Maryland is stoked to host extreme action sports competitions on the slopes as well as sand?  In the excitement over the Dew Tour coming to Ocean City in the summer, we want to remind you that daredevils from near and far are gravitating to Wisp for the annual Maryland Open on February 26, 2011.

The Maryland Open is just that, an open event for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, with competition in various classes depending on the number of participants.

The throwdown will determine the top freestyle skier and snowboarder in the Mid Atlantic region after a day-long competition in slopestyle, big air, and terrain park. Contestants will be judged on style and amplitude.

This is a family-oriented event, since participants are all ages with classes determined by age and gender.

The competition will take place in the Pro Park, with the awards ceremony and apres-ski entertainment immediately after the last run.
 

Mountain Maryland does not limit its extreme sports to the winter.  Wisp offered adrenaline rushes to downhill bikers at past Gravity East competitions. The rugged terrain presents a tough challenge for this series of downhill biking runs.
 

Of course, the internationally recognized Adventure Sports Center whitewater course provides its own thrills and top level of competition.  It has hosted such high caliber events as the Canoe and Kayak American Open World Series, one of four whitewater national championships in three years.
 
(The good part is that Adventure Sports is also available for piddling paddlers to play.)
 
There are all sorts of personal challenge outdoor activities to enjoy at Wisp year round, including rock climbing and treetop swings.  So no matter what the season, or what limits you want to push, exhilarating Western Maryland is the place you want to be.

Since You Asked . . . About Maryland Horse Park

Nothing has prompted so much response as the recent suggestion (albeit indirectly) that the prospect of a Maryland Horse Park may be back in the ring once again.

Terry hears more whispers than most, and not just because the horse industry is such a bastion of sports and recreation in Maryland.  Because he spent many years in Kentucky, working with the industry in Louisville and particularly promoting their fabled Horse Park in Lexington, he has become somewhat the de facto source for input about a Maryland based facility.

And so, Kind Querier, to clear up any misperception about where such interest and enthusiasm should be directed, we went right to the horses' mouthpiece.

Allow us to introduce Ross Peddicord, newly appointed Executive Director of the Maryland Horse Industry Board.  He has taken the reins at this important function within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, promoting the industry and use of horses for recreation.

His extensive background of 30 years in the equine world includes Thoroughbred racing and breeding operations, and riding in amateur steeplechase races.  He was the co-founder of Maryland Life Magazine and serves on the Maryland Tourism Council, Howard County Tourism and Promotion Council, and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts.

In other words, he has the tourism and PR angles covered.  The horses are in good hands.

In response to our inquiry about the Maryland Horse Park prospects, Mr. Peddicord responded:

****
In August 2009, over 300 leaders and a wide variety of horse folks, including the Governor, convened at the Prince Georges Equestrian Center for the second Maryland Horse Industry Summit. The number one initiative folks felt that could move the industry forward is the creation of a Maryland Horse Park.

So it is something that the Maryland Horse Industry Board, the equine arm of the Md. Dept. of Agriculture, feels that they are obligated, and are also excited, to explore. Right now it's just in the very preliminary stages of exploration, but its an idea that is germinating among the board and the segments of the industry that they represent.

The Board just released the data from the 2010 equine census and the figures back up the resilience and vibrancy of the state's equine industry, even in tough economic times. The best thing anyone in the state's equestrian community can do to get involved is to be plugged into the activities of the Md. Horse Industry Board (http://www.marylandhorseindustry.org/)  and to join the Maryland Horse Council (http://www.mdhorsecouncil.org/).

The Horse Council is a very pro-active grassroots organization comprised of representatives of nearly 50 breed and horse event organizations throughout the state.
**************
Mr. Peddicord can be reached at his office in Annapolis.  Here is his contact information:
Phone: 410-841-5798
Cell: 240-344-0000
Fax: 410-841-5780
Email: peddicrd@mda.state.md.us

So give him your thoughts and share your ideas.  And keep those letters coming.  Tweety is still on deck, awaiting her chance at bat.

NOTE:  If you would like to learn more about the economic impact of a Maryland Horse Park, you can review the analysis performed in 2006, which evaluated the job creation and revenue generation potential of a Maryland facility.  Here is the full feasibility study performed by the Maryland Stadium Authority, which contains even more information about the importance of the industry throughout the state.

Annual Report Now Online !!!

Maryland Stadium Authority's 2010 Annual Report is now online, and you can see some impressive stats from the Office of Sports Marketing on pages 29-33.

(Of course there are many other things contained in the Annual Report, like the projects MSA is working on and the many activities that take place around Camden Yards throughout the year.)

In any case, it makes for interesting reading about Team Terry and the Merry Marketeers, particularly relating to the 2010 launch of Team Maryland, the creation of a 501(c)3 for the Sports Council, and the increased amount of information available on the OSM web-based data bank

Scroll through and see what we've achieved in 2010 and what there is to look forward to in 2011 and beyond.

Dew It Again !!!!!

Kudos to the sharp-eyed reporter
who picked up the blind item in our blog and determined the “nationally televised event” possibly coming to Maryland is the Dew Tour -- in Ocean City -- this July.  After a successful pitch to the Ocean City Council this afternoon, it looks like the Dew Crew will be coming back.  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Terry confirmed he has been in contact with them on a regular basis since arriving here two years ago. His association actually predates their events at Camden Yards. When the Dew Tour debuted in 2006, their first stop was Louisville, so he worked very closely with them there. (He also worked the task force that designed Louisville Extreme Park next to Slugger Field downtown, an experience that he is sharing with our local skate park community group.)

Ocean City is a fabulous setting for a tournament viewed by millions on a number of media platforms. As we’ve often said, many of Maryland’s finest sporting venues are supported by our natural resources. In this case, the Atlantic Ocean provides a striking setting for the activities taking place where the boardwalk begins. As we learned in Baltimore, the Dew Dudes and Dew-dettes incorporate their host city into every aspect of their presentation, showcasing some gorgeous beauty shots and also providing a stage for local entertainment with a national headliner.

As a multi-season resort, this last factor is particularly appealing to Ocean City. While it may not host the Snooki set, Ocean City is a favorite summer destination for families, many of whom (like ours) have been going there regularly for generations.

This youth-oriented demographic is particularly appealing to Dew (now part of Alli Action Sports,) as it the popularity of action sports throughout the state continues to grow.  There are always dynamic activities for youngsters in the Action Village.

Even when Dew did not have events at Camden Yards, Baltimore continued to be a part of their universe. Charm City Skate Park  hosts the annual amateur component known as the Gatorade Free Flow Tour, which gives aspiring skaters the opportunity to compete with the professionals in the Dew Tour. So Dew has never been very far from our hearts here in Maryland.

We have to give a shoutout to Dundalk native Bucky Lasek, above, seen at his winning performance at Camden Yards three years ago. Bucky is a great booster of action sports in his home state, and has been lobbying the Dew Crew to find a way to bring it back.

While Camden Yards was a great choice because of its central location and easy access, it conflicted with the other uses of the stadium complex. Ocean City has many of the same mid-Atlantic geographic benefits with a lot more flexibility.

So stoke up for surf, sand, and skateboarding this summer in Ocean City. It’s gonna be rad, dude.

Since you asked . . .

The most amazing thing happened today! We received an inquiry. That voice from the wilderness indicated that a) someone actually reads this blog, and b) they were interested in our opinion.

Heady stuff, indeed.  So we must respond at once.

The question concerned our recent series about off-road trails in Maryland, and the progress being made around the state as a result of Governor O'Malley's interest and impetus provided by DNR, local governments, and community activists.

The question was -- if we could select any one trail project in the state to complete, which would it be . . . and why?

(Two part questions are permitted since our opinions are solicited so infrequently.)

Alas, dear reader.  Terry and the Tweet are off this weekend, so you only get one response. But it comes without a moment of hesitation --- the Spring Garden bridge over the Middle Branch in Baltimore.

That's right -- this dream project trumps even South Shore and the Paw Paw Bends on the wish list because this one trail segment would be highly visible, drive tourism, connect important recreational resources, promote the War of 1812 Bicentennial, and showcase Baltimore's heritage as a port and railroad city.

The prospects of tranforming this eary 20th century railroad bridge into a multi-purpose promenade have been discussed for years. A few things, mostly $$$$$ (no hibernating bats, thank goodness,) clouded this vision. The last time I inquired, the possibility was tied to a future Transportation Authorization Bill in Congress. Maybe because that is now being crafted (after six years) it makes the prospect seem less far-fetched.

(I know some people are still touchy on this subject, but Pittsburgh has done a heck of a job converting some of their old rail bridges into bike trails. The Hot Metal Bridge, opened in 2007, is a major attraction for cyclists. And anything they can do . . .)

While Spring Garden looks like a bridge to nowhere since abandoned by the railroad many years ago, this double tracked span has the new Westport development and Gwynns Falls Trail on one end, and Swann, Riverside and Latrobe Parks on the other. As you follow the old rail bed into Port Covington, it carries you along the Middle Branch, past the cruise terminal in Locust Point and eventually to Fort McHenry.

(The annual Tour de Port ride, sponsored by Bike Maryland, has helped popularize cycling around the Fort. More than 1,000 riders participate every October.  Note the trail around the periphery.)

The south end of Spring Garden, near the light rail stop, would also tie into one of those projects on Governor O'Malley's to do list -- the connector between the BWI trail and the Baltimore trail system, creating a passage all the way to Annapolis.

So consider this the most fanciful pipe dream of the Here 2 Play trio, at least for now.   There are others -- mostly rural and historic in nature. But the eye-catching Spring Garden bridge would probably enjoy the most traffic and bring the most visitors so it's #1.

(The fact it's close enough to Camden Yards for a lunch hour loop and quick stop at Nick's has nothing to do with it.)

Any other questions out there will be cheerfully addressed. Tweety's on deck at the H2P Answer Desk, so she gets the next swing.



A Horse is a Horse . . .

Of course, of course,
and now we know what economic force
so if you go right to this source
You’ll find them making hay!

(Sorry that last line didn’t rhyme, but I couldn’t find anything to go with $5.6 BILLION DOLLAR$)

While 2010 was a census year for all Americans, here in Maryland it was also the year to count noses in stables. And according to the report released yesterday by the Maryland Horse Industry Board(linked above) the equine industry continues to be a major factor in job creation, land preservation, recreational activity, and tourism.

This validates Governor O’Malley’s personal intervention on behalf of the industry when the Preakness was imperiled. For although thoroughbreds (the State Horse) are the ranking breed in terms of number and they drive most of the activity, the impact of the equine industry goes much deeper, and reaches every region in the state.

Horses are undeniably an important part of our history and heritage, but they represent an activity enjoyed by Marylanders of all ages, economic backgrounds, and interests. Three years ago, Kevin Plank, owner and CEO of UnderArmour, purchased the Sagamore Farm in Glyndon with the intent to revitalize the racing industry in Maryland. His commitment to the restoration of the estate not just a boost to the future of racing in Maryland, but also its potential as a visitor attraction.

We’ll be hearing a lot more about this report, what it means, and what can be done to bolster the industry woven throughout the fiber of our state’s economy and identity. Now that the racing industry is bolstered by a cash infusion for purses, and legislative protections are in place to retain the Preakness, the subject may again turn to the recreational and competitive part of the industry that involve so many participants.

Who knows? The Horse Park project may even trot back.

Stay tuned. For now, give thanks to those who rode in like the cavalry and saved the racing industry from an almost certain death blow this year. Then see what will be unfolding to maximize the impact this industry has in tourism, recreational activity and spectator sports.

And count on Tweety and Blogue to cover some of the many equine related activities that bring visitors to Maryland and some of its most beautiful and historic settings.

The Perfect Fit

Terry and the Merry Marketeers were brainstorming at the Turn Ten after work last week, trying to identify additional space for an upcoming tournament which is more successful than previous years. 

(You have to love the kind of success that keeps you scrambing for an overflow venue, Terry reminded us.)

Unfortunately, there was another overflow during the evening bohamie that was not quite so welcome.  The kind that arrives in the middle of winter when carbohydrate cravings have caught up with moribund metabolism and you realize "one size fits all" no longer applies to anything you are wearing or sitting on.  In fact, you curse silently, is there any place where One Size (truly) Fits All?

But of course, the muse reminds you --  the State of Maryland.  That compact geographic jurisdiction that offers everything in the pursuit of fitness.  And if we spent more time exploring and enjoying its many outdoor wonders and convenient facilities, we might not have have trouble balancing on the stools at the Turn Ten.

(NOTE:  Jumping in the Bay with the Polar Bears might be adventurous, but it doesn't burn blubber.)

The Merry Marketeers have been lobbying Terry for a field trip to Western Maryland, where winter is not only welcome -- it is celebrated as an important element in year-round outdoor sports opportunites.

We're hoping to take this trip in February so we can see experience exhilaration and exercise at its snowiest.  Wisp, the only ski resort in the state, has received a blessing of snowfall this winter. The total now stands at 128 inches, more than the area's traditional seasonal average of 100 inches.

Additionally, their world-famous snowmaking system, which covers 90 percent of the terrain, accounts for the length and reliability of that season.

Devotees and dilettantes (like the snow bunny here) have 32 slopes and trails spread over 132 acres, with 90% of the slopes available for night skiing.  And that's just the beginning of what the region offers this time of year.

For although our state has absolutely everything you can imagine in outdoor facilities and natural resources, there isn't any region that can do winter quite like Mountain Maryland.

So stay tuned for the next adventure of Tweety and Blogue, and also for some good news from Terry about a soon to be announced major televised event that's hoping to come to Maryland.