The Maryland Horse Industry Board, a program within the Maryland Department of Agriculture, will present its October Touch of Class Award to Stuart S. Janney III, the Baltimore County resident whose horse, Orb , won the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
The award will be presented Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. in the winner's circle at Laurel Park during the Maryland Million. It will be presented by MHIB chairman Jim Steele, who is also chair of the Maryland Million Executive Committee.
Jen Patterson, Orb's exercise rider and chief caretaker, will accept the award on Janney's behalf. Patterson manages a string of horses, including Orb, which are stabled at Fair Hill Training Center in Cecil County and are owned by Janney and his cousin, Ogden Phipps.
Orb won four straight races leading up to his victory in the Kentucky Derby, including the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) and Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (gr. II). The colt, who has compiled earnings of $2.6 million, catapulted Janney and Maryland into the national spotlight and helped draw a near record crowd to the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), where he finished fourth. He later ran third in the Belmont (gr. I) and Travers (gr. I) stakes.
Each month, the MHIB recognizes Maryland people and horses who have achieved national and international recognition. In the past two years, MHIB has honored 48 Maryland horses or people in 20 different riding disciplines.