♪ ♪ HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE MPT SPORTS DESK.

I'M YOUR HOST JIM HUNTER.

UPCOMING AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR, DAY THREE OF OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE MARYLAND 5 STAR AT FAIR HILL.

ONE OF TWO 5 STAR EQUESTRIAN EVENTS OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES AND ONE OF ONLY SEVEN WORLDWIDE AND HELD HERE IN MARYLAND.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE JUST DISCOVERING THIS EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, LET'S LOOK AT THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE COMPETITION.

DRESSAGE, CROSS-COUNTRY AND SHOW JUMPING.

THIS YEAR'S COMPETITION INCLUDES OLIVER TOWN TOWNEND OF GREAT BRITAIN RANKED NUMBER ONE AND HAS HELD THE NUMBER RANKING FOR FIVE YEARS.

IT ALSO INCLUDES LAST YEAR'S WINNER, AMERICAN BOYD MARTIN.

LET'S GET YOU CAUGHT UP ON THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF THE COMPETITION.

FOR THE SECOND YEAR, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS EQUESTRIAN EVENTS IN THE WORLD, THE MARYLAND 5 STARS FAIR HILL.

WE HAVE ENJOYED A FULL DAY OF DRESSAGE SPORT STARTING WITH THE THREE STAR INCORPORATING THE USEF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> WE SEE LAUREN NICHOLSON, A LOVELY TEST.

SHE IS SUFT A TALENTED RIDER HERSELF COMING OFF OF A SILVER MEDAL AT THE TONY AND ITALY WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES AND THIS DIVISION WILL LOOK TO PRODUCE HORSES FOR THE FUTURE.

YOU SEE SOME OF LAUREN'S GREAT WORK SHE DID EARLIER TODAY.

WE MOVE TO ON A BEAUTIFUL TEST AND HELD THE LEAD.

CARLSON, THIS IS A PROMISING RIDER AND WE WILL SEE HER ATOP THE SPORT IN YEARS TO COME.

YOU CAN SEE WHY THE JUDGES REALLY TOOK TO THE CALIBER OF HORSE AND RIDER COMBINATION THAT THESE TWO ARE AND THEY REALLY PRODUCED TOP WORK IN ORDER TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON OUR LEADER.

THAT, OF COURSE, THIS IS MAN, WILL COLEMAN WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.

HE BRINGS FORWARD COLT RED RUM AND LAUREN'S TEAMMATE ON THE RECENT SILVER MEDAL TEAM OVER IN ITALY.

AND THIS IS QUITE THE HORSE.

THEY WILL LEAD THE WAY GOING INTO THE NEXT DAY OF DRESSAGE AND MAYBE EVEN INTO THE CROSS-COUNTRY SO OUR LEADERS ON 27-POINT 1-RBGS A MARRIAGE ANYONE FRONT OF AMANDA BEALE AND CARLSON.

DML OUR FOCUS IS ON THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION THIS YEAR, THE 5 STAR, ONE OF SEVEN IN THE WORLD.

>> LIST BETH HALLIDAY-SHARP WITH COOLLY QUICKSILVER.

SHE IS CURRENTLY THE TOP HOLDER OF INTERNATIONAL WINS FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

12 INTERNATIONAL WINS, LOOKING TO ADD AND MAKE IT 13 HERE THIS WEEKEND.

RIGHT ABOVE HER WE SEE ASTIER NICHOLAS MAKING THE TRIP OVER REPRESENTING FRANCE.

HE PUT FORWARD A VERY SMART TEST ON THIS YOUNG HORSE THAT HE HAS BIG PLANS FOR FOR THE FUTURE.

AND HE DEFINITELY DID NOT COME HERE FOR THE BEER, AS THEY SAY.

AND THIS MAN CERTAINLY SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST IN THE FIELD.

THIS IS WOODS BAUGHMAN AND HE THREW DOWN A STELLAR PERFORMANCE.

HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THE PIECES TO COME TOGETHER AND COME TOGETHER THEY SURE DID TODAY IN THE POURING RAIN, THE SKIES OPENED UP.

HE SNUCK INTO THE LEAD, THE LAST TO GO WITH A VERY SMART SCORE.

>> WOODS BAUGHMAN AND C'EST LA VIE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OUR LEADERS AT THE 5 STAR 27.2 AND ASTIER NICHOLAS, THE OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST FOR FRANCE.

BABYLON de GAMMA MAKING THEIR RETURN TO MARYLAND FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH ASTIER NICHOLAS TO DISCUSS HIS PERFORMANCE TODAY AND COMING BACK TO THE 5 STAR AT MARYLAND.

>> ASTIER, BEAUTIFUL TEST FOR YOU RIGHT THERE IN THE THICK OF IT AT THE TOP AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A DRESSAGE SHOW, BUT FOR TODAY, IT IS.

SO YOUR THOUGHTS ON HIS TEST?

>> PRETTY SATISFIED.

CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS PHASE WITH THE HORSE.

THAT'S AN AMAZING JUMPER.

HE IS 11 NOW.

MATURING INTO THIS PHASE AND GETTING THERE.

COULD HAVE HOPED FOR A BIT MORE LIKE WE'VE GOT TO TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.

>> YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY TO BE HERE.

AND SO YOUR THOUGHTS ON, YOU KNOW, COMING THIS FAR, BETTING GETTING HERE, HOW THE HORSE TRAVELED AND YOUR REASON FOR COMING TO MARYLAND?

>> I COME HERE BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT SHOW AND THE GROUNDS ARE PERFECT.

IT'S A REAL REASON TO COME OVER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO PRESERVE THE HORSES, THIS LEVEL, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VERY BEST IS DONE AND THE POSSIBILITIES.

>> GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> A WORLD CLASS RESULT AT THE WORLD CLASS EVENT.

THERE ARE MANY MORE SUPER STARS OF THE SPORT TO COME TOMORROW AT BOTH DIVISIONS AT THE MARYLAND 5 STARS.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS ANY OF THIS.

SECOND DAY OF THE MARYLAND 5 STARS SAW BOTH DIVISIONS CONCLUDE PREPARING THE COMPETITION FOR SATURDAY.

3 STAR LONG CHAMPIONSHIPS, AN EXCITING DAY OF DRESSAGE WITH REAL CHANGES AT THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD.

>> IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL TEST BY KATHY SUNGAR, ONE OF OUR YOUNGEST COMPETITORS IN THE FIELD.

SHE DID A STELLAR JOB WITH THIS HORSE SHE SET THE BAR PRETTY HIGH IN THE COMPETITION TODAY AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THIS HORSE LOOKS LIKE CROSS-COUNTRY THEN ALYSSA WALLACE CAME IN AND THREW DOWN HER RIDE.

I THINK THE JUDGES WERE LOOKING FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS AND PUT FORTH A BEAUTIFUL TEST ON THIS BIG GOING HORSE HANNAH SUE HOLLBERG CAME TOWARDS THE END AND PUT HER STAMP ON THE DIVISION.

WE WILL BE LOOKING TO SEE HOW SHE TACKLES THE TERRAIN TOMORROW OUR BRAB ADVISORY RESULTS SO FAR HANNAH SUE HOLLBERG AND LISA WALLACE, AND CASSIE SANGER, JUST 18 YEARS OLD IN THE PRESTIGIOUS 5 STAR COMPETITION, ACTION CONCLUDED.

ALLIE KNOWLES HAVING A BEAUTIFUL TEST.

THIS IS A HORSE THAT SHE HAS BEEN PRODUCING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND ALLIE IS WAITING FOR IT TO ALL COME TOGETHER AND WE HOPE IT WILL HAPPEN.

AND SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL TEST TIM PRICE, THE WORLD NUMBER ONE AND YOU CAN SEE WHY HE IS WORLD NUMBER ONE, COMING BACK HERE FOR HIS SECOND TIME AND HE IS REALLY LOOKING TO MAKE A STAMP, AND DELIVER THE WIN HERE AND THERE WILL BE ONE MAN STANDING IN HIS PLACE BUT YOU CAN BET AS CLOSE AS THE STANDINGS ARE, THIS IS GOING TO REALLY KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

IT'S GOING TO PUT HIM EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTS TO BE TO BE ABLE TO STRIKE TOMORROW.

AND HERE WE ARE FROM YESTERDAY WITH WOODS BAUGHMAN WHO, OF COURSE, GOT THE BULK OF THE RAIN.

I THINK HE IS STILL DRYING OUT úHIS BOOTS.

BUT HE WILL HAVE TO RUMBLE TOMORROW ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THIS IS A TEST WE THOUGHT COULD STICK IN THE LEAD AFTER DAY TWO AND IT DID IN FACT DO JUST THAT.

FOR THIS YOUNG MAN, HE WILL BE LOOKING TO TURN HEADS TOMORROW ON THE TRACK.

>> SO THE ADVISORY RESULTS IN THE 5 STAR, WOODS BAUGHMAN AND C'EST LA VIE 27.2, STILL OUR LEADERS IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES FROM THE LIKES OF GOLD MEDALIST OLIVER TOWNEND AND WORLD NUMBER ONE TIM PRICE WITH CUE CUE WHO SITS IN COUP DE COEUR DUDEVIN WHO SITS IN SECOND.

THEY'RE THE TOP TIPPED PAIR IN THIS FEEL.

THEY WILL GO OUT FIRST ON THE CROSS-COUNTRY SO NO INFORMATION FOR THEM.

THEY WILL HAVE IT ALL TO PLAY FOR.

TAMMY SMITH AND DANITO SIT SIXTH ON 29.4.

WELL, AFTER DRESSAGE TODAY, WE CAUGHT UP WITH RETURNING RIDER TO MARYLAND WORLD NUMBER ONE, TIM PRICE.

>> WORLD NUMBER ONE TIM PRICE AND GREAT PERFORMANCE FOR YOU HERE TODAY AT MARYLAND.

>> YEAH, AN EXPERIENCE AT THIS LEVEL WAS COUP DE COEUR DUDEVIN, I STILL PRONOUNCE IT WRONG EVERY TIME.

JOKER TO HIS FAMILY AN FRIENDS.

HE EXECUTED ALMOST ALL OF THE TESTS AT THE OPTIMUM LEVEL HE IS WORKING AT.

THAT'S ALL I WANT FROM ANY HORSE, FOR THEM TO DEMONSTRATE THE LEVEL THEY'RE WORKING.

OF COURSE THE BONUS IS A BONUS ON TOP OF THAT.

BUT HE WAS REALLY GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCORE WAS BUT IT WAS A NICE TIDY.

>> TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK ON IAN'S TRACK.

HAVE YOU WALKED AROUND AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT?

FINISH CELEBRATING AND WENT WELL AND QUICKLY TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT.

>> I HAVE BEEN JUMPING BIG-- AND WOULD YOU THINK THAT WOULD START TO HAVE YOU IN A BIT OF A MORE CASUAL BUT NOT CASUAL BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, SEEING BIG FENCES AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

IT'S A PROPER CHALLENGE BUT I LIKE THE FEELING BECAUSE IT BRINGS OUT BEST IN US RIDERS.

IT'S A SUPER TRACK.

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

EACH WALK I'VE GIVEN TO IT HAS GOTTEN BIGGER AND BIGGER, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>> TODAY IT IS YOUR WIFE'S BIRTH DAY SO WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT HERE THIS WEEK MAYBE A QUICK HELLO TO YOUR FAMILY BACK AT HOME.

>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JANELLE AND HELLO FAMILY AND SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS.

>> GOOD TUCK TOMORROW, TIM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TWO COMPETITIONS BALANCED ON A KNIFE'S EDGE AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE EXCITING CROSS-COUNTRY AT THE MARYLAND 5 STARS FAIR HILL.

>> BEYOND THE SKILL FEATURED DURING THE 5 STAR COMPETITION, HORSEMANSHIP TEACHES LIFE LESSONS.

WE DECIDED TO LOOK AT ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR STORIES ABOUT HOW A NON-PROFIT MISSION TO PROVIDE AND AFFORDABLE HORSE BACK RIDING DEVELOPS POSITIVENESS IN CHILDREN.

>> I'M THE FOUNDER ALONG WITH MY WIFE.

AND CITY RANCH, INC., AND WE ARE A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON BALTIMORE CITY, BUT WE ARE REALLY AN INSIDE THE BELT WAY ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE HORSE RIDING, BEGAN AS AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR CITY SCHOOLS.

IT'S NOW A FARM, COMPLETE WITH PASTURES, RIDING TRAILS AND PRACTICE FACILITIES.

NOT ONLY DO YOU GET TO RIDE, BUT YOU LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO CARE FOR THESE ANIMALS.

>> I LIKE THE HORSES, THE MOST ANNOYING HORSES AND THAT PONY THAT WENT OUT, SHE IS TOUGH BUT SO CUTE BUT YOU CAN'T SAY NO TO ANYTHING TO HIM.

>> HERE AT CITY RANCH, YOU WILL FIND A NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS HOW IT CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

>> IT CALMS ME A LOT HAVING A REALLY BAD DAY AT SCHOOL, I RIDE MY WORRIES AWAY.

>> CHALLENGED ALL ALONG.

BUT THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY.

HERE IS A BIG ANIMAL THEY'RE ASKED TO ENGAGE WITH.

THEY HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THEIR LANE.

WHEN WE COME TO THEIR SPACE, THEIR AURA ENCAPSULATES US AND CALMS US DOWN.

THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS THE CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THE ANIMAL: >> A MA'AM OF CHILDREN WHO STARTED IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE GONE ON TO TRY EQUESTRIAN EVENTS.

THE PROUDEST MOMENT FOR DON IS WHEN ONE OF HIS RIDERS WENT TO COLLEGE AND DECIDED TO BECOME A HORSE VETERINARIAN.

I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> ACCORDING TO THE MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL, THE HORSE INDUSTRY OVERALL HAS A 2.4 BILLION IMPACT ON MARYLAND.

THE EQUESTRIAN COMPETITION ALONE SUPPORTS OVER 3340 JOBS IN OUR STATE AND AS A 310 MILLION-DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

LAST YEAR'S INAUGURAL MARYLAND 5 STAR AT FAIR HILL ATTRACTED HORSES AND RIDERS FROM SEVEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AS WELL AS MORE THAN 20,000 SPECTATORS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.

NOW JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF THE MARYLAND 5 STAR ON THE STATE ARE JEFF NEWMAN, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE MARYLAND 5 STAR AT FAIR HILL, TERRY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND SPORTS COMMISSION AND TOM KELSO.

THE STADIUM CHAIRMAN.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO START WITH YOU, DESPITE A RAINING START ON DAY ONE OF THE COMPETITION, HOW ARE THINGS GOING SO FAR AS WE BET INTO DAY THREE?

>> THE FORECAST LOOKS GREAT.

SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT FOR A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE COUNTRY IN CECIL COUNTY.

THE FIRST PHASE HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH DRESSAGE AND WE ARE HEADING INTO THE CROSS-COUNTRY PHASE FOLLOWED BY SHOW JUMPING.

REALLY EXCITING.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY DEEP FIELD THIS YEAR WITH THREE OF THE TOP FIVE EVENTERS IN THE WORLD.

SO IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FINAL TWO DAYS OF COMPETITION FOR THE COMPETITORS AND THE FANS ANXIOUS TO SEE SOMETHING SPECIAL?

WHAT DEFUNS THE EVENT IS CROSS-COUNTRY.

IT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO UNIQUE AND IT'S FOUR MILES OF HORSES GOING OVER INCREDIBLE TERRAIN AND AMAZING OBSTACLES AND REALLY LIKE A GOLF EVENT.

YOU CAN WATCH COMPETITORS YOU KNOW, GO OVER AN OBSTACLE ALL DAY AT A PARTICULAR HOLE OR OBSTACLE OR YOU CAN FOLLOW THE COURSE THROUGHOUT AND THERE ARE 43 OBSTACLES.

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOUR FAMILY, BRING YOUR DOORING, DOG FRIENDLY EVENT.

>> THE DOGS DON'T GET AFRAID OF THE HORSES?

>> THEY DON'T.

>> THIS IS A TREMENDOUS EVENT FOR OUR STATE.

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THE IMPACT WILL BE OF THE 5 STAR ON THE STATE NOT ONLY THIS YEAR BUT OVER THE LONG HAUL.

>> LONG-TERM THE EVENT IS GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN THE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS INDUSTRY.

IT CORRELATES WITH A LOT OF THE THINGS AT THAT TIME WE ARE DOING BIG PICTURE WISE ON THE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS FACE AND THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE AND PARTNERSHIP.

YOU ARE SEEING THE EVENTING SPACE GROW SIGNIFICANTLY.

NOT ONLY HOSTING THE 5 STAR AS WE SPEAK BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR 5 STAR HAPPENING TWO WEEKS FROM NOW AT THE SHOW PLACE ARENA, CONNECTING THE ENTIRE STATE TO THE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS BASE AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE IMPACT OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR THE 5 STAR, DRIVING REVENUE INTO THE STATES THAT THESE EVENTS BRING AT A VERY, VERY HIGH LEVEL.

OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS.

THESE ARE BUCKET LIST OPPORTUNITIES.

THE MARYLAND 5 STAR FAIR HILL IS A BUCKET LIST EVENT.

IT COVERS EVERYTHING.

IF YOU LIKE THE HOSPITALITY, THE ENTERTAINMENT, YOU KNOW, SPORTS IN GENERAL AND LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FUN TIME WITH FAMILY, THE 5 STAR IS THE PLACE TO BE.

>> NOW AS WE GET BACK TO SOMEWHAT NORMALCY IN OUR STATE, IN THE TIMES AT THAT TIME WE HAVE JUST LIVED THROUGH, WHAT KIND OF AN ECONOMIC IMPACT DO YOU THINK THAT THIS EVENT WILL HAVE THIS YEAR AS A POSITIVE TO OUR STATE?

>> WELL, IT'SING ON OBVIOUSLY GOING TO GROW AS JEFF ALLUDED TO.

THIS YEAR WE ADDED NEW COMPONENTS TO THE EVENT OVER ALL, DRIVING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE STATE.

WE ARE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF FUNDS COMING INTO THE STATE AND INTO THE REGION.

THE REALLY COOL PART ABOUT THIS EVENT.

IT IS A MARYLAND BASED EVENT.

IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRETY OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS COMING INTO THE ECONOMY AND WE EXPECT EVERY YEAR THAT THAT WILL GROW INCREMENTALLY BASED ON THE NEW COMPONENTS WE ADD AS THE EVENT GETS ANCHORED INTO THE CALENDAR EACH AND EVERY YEAR IN THIS OCTOBER TIMEFRAME AND WE EXPECT GREAT THINGS IN THE FUTURE AND WE KNOW THEY'RE DOING GATE STUFF RIGHT NOW TO MAKE THIS EVENT ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

>> TOM, YOU ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MARYLAND STADIUM AUTHORITY.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS SUCH AS THIS PLAY IN BOOSTING THE ECONOMY AND MAKING MARYLAND A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION NOT ONLY FOR THE FABS TO COME OUT AND SEE AN EVENT BUT TO ATTRACT OTHER EVENTS TO MARYLAND?

>> GREAT QUESTION AND I APPRECIATE IT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH FOR THE WORK OF TERRY.

HIS ROLE, HIS JOB, WITHIN THE MARYLAND STADIUM AUTHORITY IS DOING JUST THIS, WHICH IS RECRUITING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS TO COME TO MARYLAND WHICH HAVE BOTH A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT ON THE STATE BUT ALSO HAVE A HUGE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACT ON THE STATE BECAUSE IT BRINGS A VARIETY OF VERY HIGH LEVEL SPORTING EVENTS TO MARYLAND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE AS TO WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO AND BE ABLE TO ENJOY IN ADDITION TO THE MAJOR SPORTS TEAMS THAT PLAY IN MARYLAND.

TERRY HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB IN ACTUALLY CONCEPTUALIZING THE 5 STAR, THE WORK HE HAD DONE IN KENTUCKY GAVE HIM THE BACKGROUND TO BELIEVE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE 5 STAR COULD BE.

SO LAST YEAR WE START WITH 20,000 PEOPLE.

IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND ENJOY THIS WORLD CLASS EVENT.

THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF THE MARYLAND SPORTS COMMISSION AND TERRY AND HIS TEAM.

>> TOM, OBVIOUSLY MARYLAND IS KNOWN AS A HORSE FRIENDLY STATE, BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER SPORTS THAT MAY LOOK AT THIS 5 STAR AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY DID REALLY WELL AND IT REALLY HELPED OUR PRODUCT BLOSSOM.

HOW MIGHT YOU ATTRACT OTHER SPORTS AND OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LONG CALENDAR YEAR TO MAKE MARYLAND THEIR HOME FOR THEIR NEXT BIGGIE VENT.

>> TERRY MIGHT BE BETTER AT ANSWERING THAT QUESTION THAN I AM.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, WHICH WAS HELD OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND WAS AND INCREDIBLE AND INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS.

THIS IS BIKING, CYCLING AT THE HIGHEST WORLD CLASS LEVEL, WAS HELD IN MARYLAND IN THE BALTIMORE REGION LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THAT WAS AN EVENT THAT CREATED BY THE MARYLAND SPORTS COMMISSION AND TERRY'S COMMISSION IN BEING ABLE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE CREATED AND THEN TO KNOW AS TO HOW DO YOU TAKE AN EVENT AND ACTUALLY BUILD IT UP TO WHERE IT BECOMES TO THE LEVEL WHERE IT CAN MAXIMIZE ITS IMPACT.

BUT I THINK TERRY MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU SOME OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, IDEAS AND CONCEPTS AND THINGS THAT HE IS WORKING ON THAT GO BEYOND EQUINE AND CYCLING.

>> TERRY, WHO YOU ABOUT THAT?

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY EVENTS WANT TO BLOSSOM.

THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND IF YOU ARE PUTTING OUT WORLD CLASS EVENTS AND THIS 5 STAR EVENT CERTAINLY IS A WORLD CLASS EVENT, I MEAN THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN OF THESE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD OVER THE COURSE OF THE CALENDAR YEAR WHAT OTHER SPORTS OR EVENTS MIGHT BE CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE TO SAY WE WANT A PART OF THAT, WE WANT TO COME TO MARYLAND?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE VISION OF THESE EVENTS COMES THROUGH GETTING OUT INTO THE INDUSTRY AND NETWORKING WITH EVENT OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS ABROAD, WE COMB AND MINE FOR OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND FIND THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON IS FINDING THINGS THAT ARE NOT STANDARD SPORTS, LIKE WE ARE WELL KNOWN FOR LACROSSE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE HOST PROBABLY MORE YOUTH LACROSSE TOURNAMENTS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO WE LOOK AT NCAA LACROSSE, THE PPL, THOSE TYPE ACTIVITIES AND THAT'S MORE YOUR TRADITIONAL GENRE WHERE EQUESTRIAN SPORTS AND CYCLING, YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS IN THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE TWO SPORTS AND BEING ABLE TO BUILD A BRAND FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND NOT JUST DOMESTIC BUT ALSO INTERNATIONAL, CREATES A GATEWAY FOR BUSINESSES TO HAVE ENTRY POINTS IN CREATING MORE BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE NOW THE MARYLAND NAME IS WELL KNOWN AND SPORTS IS A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT.

WE'VE DONE IT THROUGH BIDDING ON THE WORLD CUP EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT WIN THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT WAS STILL A LEGACY COMPONENT BECAUSE IT HELPED US ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND NETWORKING CONNECTIONS THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD SO THAT WE CAN COMPETE, NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT WE CAN ALSO COMPETE INTERNATIONALLY, AND THE 5 STAR THIS WEEKEND IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF HOW, YOU KNOW, WE PUT THE FOUNDATION IN AND THEY BE WE HAD TEAM MEMBERS HELPING US PUT THE BUILDING BLOCKS ON THESE THINGS SO THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL AND WHEN YOU DO A SUCCESSFUL EVENT LIKE THE 5 STAR AND THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, THE REPUTATION OF SUCCESS, THE REPUTATION OF QUALITY GETS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR SO WE STILL GO GO OUT THERE AND MINE FOR BUSINESS BUT NOW THE BUSINESS STARTS COMING TO US BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE CAN DO IT IN A WORLD CLASS WAY AND IN A FIRST CLASS MANNER AND THAT WAY THE REPUTATION OF MARYLAND IS AT THAT TIME WE GET IT DONE AND WE DO IT RIGHT.

>> JEFF, WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR THE 5 STAR?

>> I THINK THE GENERAL AWARENESS OF THE EVENT.

WE ARE ONLY IN OUR SECOND YEAR AND CLEARLY THAT WILL BE JUDGED BY ATTENDANCE AND WITH THE FORECAST BEING THE WAY IT IS, WE HOPE WE ARE GOING TO GET A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO CREATE BEST EXPERIENCE FOR THESE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES AND ATHLETES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO REALLY SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM THE OTHER SIX 5 STARS IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE RECEIVED GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMPETTORS, SO WE MEASURE TWO THINGS.

THE COMPETITOR EXPERIENCE AND THE SPECTATOR EXPERIENCE.

AND IF WE CAN LEARN YEAR OVER YEAR HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER EACH YEAR, WE FEEL WE WILL BE SUCCESS IF WILL.

>> JEFF, TERRY AND TOM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING WITH US SO MUCH AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK FOR A GREAT CONCLUSION TO THIS CANS SIGHTING EVENT.

>> THANK YOU, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COME SEE THE 5 STAR.

>> THANK YOU,.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY AND STAY TUNED.

THE CROSS-COUNTRY COMPETITION MARYLAND 5 STAR IS NEXT RIGHT HERE ON MPT