State of Maryland's plan to purchase Laurel approved
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The Maryland Board of Public Works on Thursday formally approved the state’s plan to purchase Laurel Park for $48.5 million as part of a long-term proposal to convert the track into a year-round training center.
The three-member board unanimously approved the plan, which was announced three months ago by Governor Wes Moore as an alternative to redeveloping a local farm into a training facility. Although some legislators initially balked at the plan, including a fellow Democrat who had been snubbed for an endorsement by Moore in his local race, those concerns appear to have been brushed aside.
In 2024, the Maryland Legislature approved a plan to take over Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and rebuild the track as a year-round venue for racing. Pimlico and Laurel were both owned by 1/ST Racing and Gaming.
Although the plan initially revolved around the construction of a new training center, state officials pivoted after learning that the buildout at the farm would cost far more than initial projections. Officials with the governor’s office said that the plan to buy Laurel instead would save the state $50 million.
The state now plans to sell Shamrock Farms, the 328-acre property it bought for the potential new training facility. The purchase price of Shamrock was $5 million. State officials told the board they would begin marketing the property in the fall.
The reconstruction project at Pimlico is expected to be completed next year. For the time being, racing is being conducted at Laurel.
Once Pimlico is rebuilt, the state plans to hold 120 days of live racing at the track, with minimal backstretch operations consisting entirely of receiving barns. Laurel Park has space for 1,200 horses and both a dirt and turf racing surface.
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