I can only imagine how much they spent with you after unloading and watering only a portion of it!!!
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Secondhand info, but I think that is what happened. Allegedly they used a golf course outfit that just established pretty grass over the area cheaply, but it’s not racing fit.
There was a big public meeting about it a few months ago. I didn’t go, did you @tabula_rashah? I know a mutual friend of ours went which is where I heard the golf course bit from.
I’m slightly fascinated by all of the sentiment here. I’m not a betting person myself, but I couldn’t really care less if anyone else does it. I think the opportunities for engagement are great. I don’t think horse sports are remotely predictable enough to worry about this affecting rider decision making or horse welfare.
For those who have mentioned concerns about it affecting the atmosphere, I’d recommend you check out the live stream for Boekelo this weekend. I don’t think they have betting, but that entire event is one big party, and it certainly draws people from outside the horse world to engage with that. Far from being a negative, it seems like a great time, and IMO it’s also a great opportunity for the horses and riders to get themselves into some atmosphere before they get to a championship for a 5*. Win-win for everyone, most especially the sport.
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I did not get to go - I travel quite a bit- but I had a good friend that went and heard the golf course thing from her too
I trained race horses for 25 years so I know all too well how corrupt racing can be and that is with tons of oversight. I can’t imagine how having basically no oversight over the sport can lead to fair wagering.
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I believe in many parts of the world they do wager on show jumping, although I don’t have any first-hand knowledge about it. I do know that the guidelines for FEI officials and participants say that you should never give anyone what could be considered inside information for that reason.
That would be another activity that I think it would be foolish to bet on in any kind of a serious way, because… horses.
I can imagine maybe participating in something like a Calcutta where you bet on your favorite rider to raise money for a charity. Beyond that, no way.
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Oof.
Because golfers and racehorses travel over grass exactly the same way, right? Ridiculous.
Yeah they brought in the Maryland Stadium Authority to go along with DNR to build/ design stuff. Seems like an equestrian perspective might have been important there…
I truly do not know if this was intentional or done out of ignorance or because of the finances or what.
I was initially skeptical when I learned about the Five Star. I went to a meeting with Jeff Newman and was totally hyped for it, 100% supportive of what was pitched, including the expansion of racing at the facility.
My only remaining concern was always the expense.
I think they have done a good job and I remain supportive. But the situation with the racing surface leaves me with a lot of questions.
I just want to see the whole thing succeed.
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They’ve made an enemy out of me. I am continuously shocked and dismayed at the blatant lies told told the racing community and the fact that this event (which is drawing very few 5* eventers) seems to supercede racing.
Granted I’ve quit eventing as a rider and live almost 2 hours away but you wouldn’t catch me there dead now. I used to find the old Fair Hill 4* so charming too.
The fact that the only horses to run on this turf course are Shetland ponies is just unreal.
Thanks for explaining. So was the new turf track expected to hold racing events? I saw the comments above expressing concern about the golf course-like surface.
Yes not only was the steeplechase expected to continue. There was a promise of expanded flat racing on the turf.
Two issues have been cited- There are trucks constantly passing over the course to access the rings on the infield and then that the grass needs time. It seems like the type of grass planted may never be ready yet it being maintained to the tune of hundreds of thousands a year.
Meanwhile Mrs Mars wanted a 5* event and so that runs every year 
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I may be misquoting this, but I think I heard they spend more maintaining an unuseable turf course than they spent installing it.
Jeff Newman told me to my face that the plan was to use most/all of the allotted racing dates at Fair Hill. He said the Memorial Day Fair Hill Races would continue plus they would host additional, revenue-generating race meetings throughout the year.
Most of my “racing career” has been spent two places- Fair Hill (the training center) and Kentucky Downs, which I watched evolve from a bankrupt, backwoods meeting to a premier event that I can’t even afford to attend anymore. There is a real demand for these boutique turf-only cards, so it would be in the Maryland 5 Star’s best interest to remedy the situation they created and pursue their original plan.
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I am curious how they have such water issues throughout Fair Hill but have plenty of water pressure to run a pretty extensive irrigation/ sprinkler system all summer for a turf track they can’t use
Circling back to the original topic of betting on eventing.
This would seem like a pretty safe bet, right? One of the best riders in the world, an Olympic veteran on an experienced horse. Why wouldn’t you put your money on that combination?
And then… horses. Lol.
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1092591252232181&id=100044439489390
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I had been wondering what had happened to Luke. I haven’t seen him for a couple of years. I am sure Boyd wouldn’t have brought him even to prelim if he thought he would misbehave like that. I do think it is honest and brave to post such a video, and not just wins.
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For sure.
He also posted a video of himself falling off within the last couple of weeks. His social media posts are tremendously entertaining, but he does not seem to sugarcoat things.
Stuff happens. To everybody!
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I didn’t see the fall, but I get a lot of his silly videos with his kids. Well, I get a lot of them on FB, and I enjoy them. It seems like he is really close to his kids.
The videos of his kids riding are just hilarious. And their mounts are absolutely saintly. I’m sure those kids have no idea how lucky they are.
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They don’t use the racing track for the 5* and are
