Maryland’s new Thoroughbred training center, a central component of a comprehensive plan to strengthen the state’s racing industry, will be built on Shamrock Farm near Woodbine in Carroll County, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced on Monday.

The Authority, an independent agency established by statute in 2023, is announcing plans to acquire a 300-acre property to construct a best-in-class equine training facility.    

Designed to accommodate more than 800 horses with room for future expansion, the new facility will serve as a cornerstone for Maryland’s horse racing industry. Located just 20 miles from Pimlico Race Course, the site’s strategic proximity aligns with Pimlico’s highly anticipated major redevelopment set to begin in 2025. The project underscores the Authority’s commitment to supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of Maryland’s thoroughbred racing community.                    

Together, Pimlico and the new training facility will provide the modern infrastructure and features needed to ensure the future viability of Thoroughbred racing in Maryland. The Carroll County facility will preserve critical green space, with ample grazing and turnout areas in a pastoral setting close to Pimlico.

“Our goal is to design and build one of the great equine training centers in the world,” said Gregory A. Cross, chairman of the MTROA. “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. This project truly continues the path for our racing industry to thrive.”

“The selection of Shamrock Farm as the year-round training center marks a pivotal step forward for Maryland’s racing community as part of the Pimlico Plus Plan,” said Alan Foreman, general counsel to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and a member of the MTROA board. “Located in the heart of Carroll County, Shamrock Farm provides horsemen with a convenient and accessible training facility, close to many of their current operations. This proximity will ease travel burdens and ensure trainers, horses, and their teams have the resources they need to thrive. Paired with the revitalization of Pimlico, this decision demonstrates our commitment to collaborating with the State of Maryland to strengthen the infrastructure and sustainability of our historic racing industry.”

The Carroll County facility is expected to contain a 1-mile dirt oval built with the same material and layout as the Pimlico track, which is becoming the primary home of Maryland Thoroughbred racing. The facility will have at least 800 stalls, with housing, kitchen areas and a recreation center for stable-area workers.

The combination of a rebuilt Pimlico augmented by an industry-run training center will place Maryland’s $2 billion-per-year horse industry on solid footing and position it to thrive into the 21st century.

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

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