Maryland launches new training centre

Maryland racing is to get a new thoroughbred training centre to strengthen the state’s racing industry with the restructuring of Shamrock Farm near Woodbine in Carroll County.

With the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announcing the training centre, its a central component of a comprehensive plan for building the Maryland horse racing industry.

“Our goal is to design and build one of the great equine training centres in the world,” said Greg Cross, Chairman of the MTROA, “as a rigorous examination of many locations in the region showed that this site provides the best combination of size, cost and construction approval process.”

“The collaborative decision to build at Shamrock Farm included input from Maryland’s horsemen and other key stakeholders as the project continues the path for racing industry to thrive.”

Located just 20 miles from Pimlico Racecourse, its designed to accommodate more than 800 horses with room for future expansion, with the new facility to serve the state’s racing industry.

As the MTROA is an independent agency established by statute in 2023, it announced plans to acquire 300 acres to construct a best-in-class equine training facility in the proximity to Pimlico.

The site’s strategic alignment with Pimlico’s highly anticipated major redevelopment to begin in 2025 it supports long-term growth and sustainability of Maryland’s thoroughbred community.

“The selection of Shamrock Farm as the year-round training centre marks a pivotal step forward for Maryland’s racing community as part of the Pimlico Plus Plan,” said Alan Foreman of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and a member of the MTROA Board of Directors.

“Located in the heart of Carroll County, Shamrock Farm provides horsemen with a convenient and accessible training facility that’s close to their current operations and easing travel burdens.”

“It will ensure trainers, horses, and their teams have the resources they need to thrive, and being paired with the revitalization of Pimlico it demonstrates our collaborating with the state of Maryland to strengthen the infrastructure and sustainability of our historic racing industry.”

“Together, Pimlico and the new training facility will provide modern infrastructure and features to ensure the future viability along with the County facility preserving critical green space.”

The Carroll County facility is to contain a one-mile dirt oval built with the same material and layout as the Pimlico track, which eventually will become the primary home of Maryland racing.

In all, the facility will have 800 stalls, with housing, kitchen areas and a recreation centre for stable-area workers, plus ample grazing and turnout areas in a pastoral setting close to Pimlico.

Shamrock Farm had been under final consideration for acquisition for more than a year after Populous, a consultant retained by the MTROA, ranked it highest on a scoring mechanism.

It evaluated criteria including location, natural resources, topography, transportation and access, utility infrastructure, jurisdictional approvals, size, and cost of acquisition and development.

Populous is also the architectural firm retained by the Maryland Stadium Authority for the project, with the MTROA along with the Maryland Jockey Club as a new not-for-profit operator.

They will continue to use Laurel Park as a transition facility while Pimlico and the training facility are constructed, after which all racing at Laurel will end and the property will be redeveloped.