Barbara Hoffman was my Senator for 19 years.

There was no policy issue where we disagreed.

Our most prominent joint effort was writing the holding of Roe v. Wade into Maryland law.

We realized that our bill needed to be supported by 29 members of the Senate (to end a filibuster) and 71 members of the House of Delegates, signed by Governor William Donald Schaefer, and approved by 50.1% of the voters on the referendum that was sure to follow.

To broaden support for the bill, we included a parental notice provision if a minor chooses to have an abortion.

When reporters spoke with me this week for Barbara’s obituary, I always discussed this legislation.

These interviews reminded me that  she played a key role in another current issue.

After Frank DeFrancis bought Pimlico Race Track, he wanted to add Sunday racing.

The surrounding neighborhoods, which are in our legislative district, were opposed.

A compromise was reached.  Sunday racing would be permitted, and the law would require that the Preakness be run at Pimlico.

I was not in the room where it happened when that compromise was struck.  Senator Barbara Hoffman was.