Mares and foals at Shamrock Farm. Photo Credit: Shamrock Farm
A historic thoroughbred breeding farm outside Baltimore was selected as the future site of a new year-round training center, part of a $400 million plan to preserve and reenergize horse racing in the state of Maryland.
The announcement of the selection of Shamrock Farm by the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority late last year, solidified a key component of a sweeping plan to restore the storied Pimlico Racetrack, home to the Preakness Stakes.
“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, which was formed in 2023 to ensure the future of thoroughbred racing in the state. “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.”
Shamrock Farm, in Woodbine, Carroll County was founded by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney 1948 and has remained a thoroughbred breeding farm, now owned by Thomas Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Under the multi-year plan, the state would acquire a 300-acre parcel to build a state-of-the-art training facility, including 800 stalls, a mile-dirt oval track, like Pimlico’s, expansive turnout, a veterinary hospital and housing for 75 workers. The farm’s sale had not been finalized at press time.
Alan Foreman, general counsel for the MTROA, said the selection of Shamrock Farm is a “pivotal step forward for Maryland’s racing community, part of the multi-billion horse industry in the state.
“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,” he said. “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 Pimlico Plus plan calls for renovation to begin of the clubhouse and track at Pimlico this year, with the 150th running of the Preakness scheduled for Pimlico in 2025, before racing shifts to Laurel Park in 2026. Training is expected to move to Shamrock Farm when Laurel Park closes in 2027.
“Shamrock is a beautiful farm in the center of the state,” said Kimberly Egan, president of the Maryland Horse Council. Egan cited the access to Baltimore, 20 minutes away, and to Interstate 70, connecting Baltimore and Lexington, Kentucky, home to Churchill Downs and many of the top breeding farms.
“We want to make sure the Preakness stays in Maryland,” she said. “We certainly want the Maryland racing industry to succeed, redeveloping the historic track and the training center is a good way to do that.”
Egan said she envisions the training center holding open houses one day to give the public a chance to experience racing up close. “They could watch horses breeze,” she said. “We could introduce a whole new generation of racing fans that we might not have if all the assets stayed in Baltimore.”