Saratoga is totally different, there is no way they could make it anything like that.
6 Likes
I think the real reality is (and I am not an insider nor do I consider myself in the know, though I have friends who still have horses training on the MD tracks), is that the footing at Laurel is so abysmal that in order to keep racing in Maryland, they had to do something because Laurel has been the training center for regional tracks but has been suffering lately because of the dangerous footing, EPM outbreaks, and other issues. Therefore it made sense to source a new ācentralā location for MD racehorses to train at that is also prestigious
- Laurelās track, facilities, and backside are not a quick fix and
- Laurelās location used to be somewhat rural/suburban but that is no longer the case and it has been grossly outgrown but no one wants to go there because of the terrible footing.
The reality is that the state will make a TON of money if they are able to eventually shut down Laurel and sell that land to developers and also on the betting/tourism/etc. that Pimlico will now be able to generate with extra racing days. Follow the money.
2 Likes
Laurel was not āfixableā because it was built on swamp land. Thatās also what made the track so dangerous because the water under the base was inconsistent and lead to shifting and holes in the base that werenāt visible from the surface.
There was a time when racing at Laurel had to be cancelled because the grandstand was settling so badly that the windows were popping out
3 Likes
Exactly. And while Maryland is one of the āhorsiestā states, other states offer better state bred incentive programs (looking at you, PA), plus ābetterā training tracks. Maryland had to do something or lose racing completely and it is a huge part of the stateās identity. I am personally glad that they are trying to bring the focus back, but I am not blind to the money being made on this deal by so many people (politicians included).
Unfortunately, the state does not own Laurel, so wonāt make money on its sale. I suppose they will make money from development fees.
3 Likes
Iām surprised Florida training areas and tracks donāt have this issue with racing surfaces. Especially considering you canāt dig a few feet down in most places in Florida without hitting significant water
Certainly canāt make it āpark likeā as is Saratoga but they could certainly do some similar things to bring crowds in. But alas, walk into Churchill Downs most regular days of the week and the place is a ghost town.
Yet ironically you pick a track that has done some pretty invovative ways to connect with the city and generate a fanbase. Like Downs After Dark.
9 Likes
Have to disagree here with Churchill; I may be a little biased because I work there seasonally but Iāve turned up a number of other days that arenāt the first week of May, and they really have done a great job bringing people in.
Downs After Dark, Twilight Thursdays, family days, military days. Heck they do a seniors day which is incredibleāmillionaires row tickets plus an actually good meal for $45. And they have folks up there to educate on racing for anyone new. My friendās parents were just absolutely tickled and had the best time.
Now if youāre in there on a Wednesday or a Thursday during the day, sure. Itās quiet. But honestly I think thatās any race track unless itās Derby week. 
8 Likes
Even places like Keeneland, Saratoga, Del Mar, etc. are not that crowded on a weekday, comparatively speaking.
2 Likes
Churchill Downs is massive now. You could put a couple thousand people there and they wouldnāt take up much of the available space. Plus, unless itās Derby or Oaks day, most people arenāt outside in the stands. Theyāre inside the grandstand where the restaurants and betting are.
The seating on either side of the tunnel that you see when you watch online is restricted to owners/trainers/grooms, and sits empty on purpose, so that those seats are available when they come over from the paddock at the last minute.
Iāve been to CD hundreds of times and never seen it look like a ghost town. (Bear in mind, snaffle has also stated the CD is surrounded by slumsā¦so consider the source.)
7 Likes
I know I am late to this party but I live 35 minutes from the farm I work at. 32 horses. 1 FT and 2 PT co-workers live about the same distance.
2 PT co-workers are 10 minutes. But only cover 4 shifts.
1 PT co-worker is more like 25 minutes.
No it is not a racetrack or race training center. But it is a very busy training, lesson, showing barn. Lots of little kids that need horses groomed and tacked. A few full care adults that get show turn-out and groomed/tacked/untacked/ cooled out. Two outside pro-trainers come in a few times a week. They are full tack-ups. Turn-out is on about 36 acres overnight all year round. It takes a few hours to bring everyone in.
As part of this, the main outdoor ring and the indoor ring is dragged everyday or every other day depending on weather by this staff. This staff mows the smaller paddocks, cleans round pens used for fat ponies, drags the paddocks.
Dump and scrub 7 Rubbermaid water troughs. This winter was tough, we had to use an axe to open and dump. (I am happy new auto Nelson waterers go in next week.)
The water buckets were freezing in the stalls overnight during the winter. We had to set them up with a torpedo heater to defrost them and alternate frozen versus unfrozen.
Some PT staff goes to horse shows on the weekends. I haul horses to those some of those to supplement the farm ownerās hauling ability.
We load the 2 hay wagons (150 bales-175 bales per load) as the farm owner tries to buy directly from the field so it it put on covered hay wagons. During the winter she is getting deliveries from their farmers about every 1.5 months.
There is an outside service that one or two guys come in 6 days a week to do about 26 stall/scrub/dump water buckets. They perform this service for multiple farms in the area.
Having ALL of your staff being 30 minutes away is not ideal but it is totally workable if you can find people that can cover for some part time slots.
Oh wait, I forgot painting and repairing fencing and jumps.
My guess is a training center is responsible for grooming the track, keeping fencing in good order, maintaining parking areas
Iāve heard some more of the plans since my earlier comments about who they expect to be using the training center so I donāt think the location for commuting, hotels, or food will be as much of a factor anymore. I was told previously they expected it to be more like Ocala where people come for a few months and then leave, which would require a lot of temporary housing. Apparently itās more for those using it as a permanent home base. I was told there will be some housing onsite but Iām not sure who that is aimed at being for.
But what I have heard from those nearby is the traffic is already very bad on woodbine road and they are concerned about the extra traffic from people turning in/out of Shamrock. I do wonder if the state plans on putting in turn lanes or some other sort of traffic mitigation to help with that. I could see, especially during work days, a vehicle trying to turn left across woodbine causing quite a backup.
