During a closed session of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA) on December 17, it was decided that Shamrock Farm in Woodbine (Carroll County) will be the site for the the new Thoroughbred racing training center. MTROA had previously narrowed the site locations down to Shamrock Farm and Michell Farm in Aberdeen.
Shamrock was founded by the late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney, who created the farm as a premiere Thoroughbred breeding opperation.
According to The Baltimore Sun, Shamrock Farm was the popular pick among the State’s horsemen, many of which are currently based out of Laurel Park. Shamrock is more closely located to Laurel Park and has direct access to Pimlico via Liberty Road. The Baltimore Sun stated, “Horsemen envision Shamrock, which already houses a longstanding breeding operation founded by late Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney, as a pastoral setting that could rival Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, where some of the state’s top stables are headquartered.”
The new training center is expected to cost a minimum of $110 million, which is over 25% of the $400 million in bonds that the State approved for the plan to redevelop Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The preliminary design calls for 16 barns containing 40 stalls each, a veterinary center, and a dormitory with 75 rooms for workers.
State officials are looking to publish the facility design and break ground in 2025 with the goal of it being move-in ready by the end of 2027, which is when the temporary agreement with The Stronach Group, who owns Laurel Park, to continue training at Laurel Park expires. Laurel Park will continue to host live racing in 2025 and 2026 with live racing moving exclusively to Pimlico in 2027 when renovations are expected to be completed.
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