McGuireWoods Consulting senior vice president Preston Bryant facilitated over seven months a new strategic plan for the Maryland horse industry.

In November 2025, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore issued an executive order establishing the Maryland Horse Industry Strategic Planning Initiative. He charged the state Department of Agriculture to convene a diverse industry stakeholder group to develop an industry-unifying strategic plan in six key areas. The areas are as follows:

• Economic development
• Advocacy
• Public awareness and promotion
• Education and workforce development
• Sustainability and land use
• Equine health and welfare
• Collaboration and communication

The Maryland horse industry generates $2.9 billion in annual economic activity. The state’s premier racing venue, Pimlico, home of the Preakness Stakes, is currently being redeveloped. The governor wants to grow this historic state industry and make Maryland increasingly competitive with other leading breeding, sporting and racing states, which requires a bold new strategic plan.

The department assembled a 13-person stakeholder group from numerous industry sectors, including thoroughbred and standardbred racing, breeding farms, academia, equine healthcare, economic development and sport, competition and recreational racing.

Bryant facilitated the stakeholder discussions from December 2025 through July 2026 and the work was to be completed by Sept. 1, 2026. The governor publicly released the plan in early October. The final consensus-based strategic plan included more than 50 recommendations across the executive order’s six focus areas.