Fair Hill Preparing For First Meet Since 2019

Fair Hill is moving forward with its plan to offer Thoroughbred racing on its new turf course on Saturday, Aug. 30, and it will mark the first meet in six years at the Cecil County facility.

Though racing, primarily steeplechase events, has not been held in recent years, the Fair Hill Foundation and Cecil County Breeders Fair have regularly applied to the Maryland Racing Commission for dates. Fair Hill can apply for up to eight dates per year, but usually has raced one or two days a year.

A renovated turf course was part of a major construction project that was geared toward accommodating a major equestrian event called the Maryland Five Star at Fair Hill. But the course needed time to mature, and eventually needed further improvements.

MRC Executive Director Chris Merz said commission staff will have a final walk-through the week before the Aug. 13 MRC meeting, which will be held at Ocean Downs Casino. He said Fair Hill officials will present its proposed pari-mutuel wagering format and request approval for in-state wagering only, as well as review safety protocols with the racing commission, and noted the races will be on the flat, most likely for horses that have competed in steeplechase races.

The meet will be operated by Sports and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. AmTote, which provides totalizator services to all in-state betting facilities operated by or affiliated with The Maryland Jockey Club, will provide those services for the one-day Fair Hill meet. Merz said that an agreement had to be signed by July 30.

MRC officials already have visited Fair Hill, and Merz said reports indicated the turf course is in good condition.

Officials said the turf course, one mile in circumference, consists of Kentucky bluegrass that generally recovers quickly after use. The renovation included addition of a new irrigation system and enhanced grass and soil management.

In a related matter, replacement of the Tapeta surface at the Fair Hill Training Center, located across the street from the turf course and eventing center, began this summer. The entire Fair Hill property falls under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

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