Founded in 1983 and located on 350 acres of rolling countryside in northeast Maryland
The Fair Hill Training Center was the brainchild of Dr John R S Fisher and a number of the sport’s prominent owners and trainers. The premise of the training center was to create a unique training center with multiple surfaces away from the traditional ‘Race Track’ model, with horses stabled at the racetrack.
Over the years, Fair Hill trained horses have won some of the sport’s biggest races, including the Kentucky Derby (2), Belmont, Dubai World Cup(2), and multiple Breeders’ Cup Races (7).
Other Gr1 races have included:
Test
Man O War(2)
Kings Bishop(2)
Makers Mark(3)
Manhattan(3)
Whitney
Sword Dancer(3)
QE2
Forego(2)
Belmont Derby
United Nations(3)
Wood Memorial
Shadwell Mile
Hollywood Derby
Arlington Million
Spinster
Matriarch
First Lady
Frank Kilroe
Diana
Training Center
The idea was to give trainers and their horses total freedom to do as they wished without the constraints of the racetrack environment, whilst at the same time not being beholden to any one racing secretary.
The founding group entered into a long-term lease of 350 acres from the state of Maryland that was within the 5000 plus acres of the Fair Hill State Park, formerly a private hunting preserve of William DuPont.
Initially starting with a 7-furlong woodchip track and a traditional 1-mile dirt track, the training center gradually found its place within the racing community along the eastern seaboard.
Over the last 20 years, managed by the incomparable Sally Goswell, the training center has thrived and gone from strength to strength and is now widely considered the premier thoroughbred training center in North America.
The Training Center has always looked to be innovative and evolve with the safety of the horse at its core. It was the first significant training center or racetrack to embrace the synthetic tracks, replacing the old woodchip track with a Tapeta surface in 2006. More recently, an on-site vet clinic was added in addition to an on-site Therapy center.
Our Mission
To provide a full service, year round training center within a sustainable budget in a safe, natural environment, utilizing multiple surfaces to optimize racing performance nationwide. We strive to be the most innovative racehorse Training Center in North America, providing unsurpassed facilities to maximize performance and soundness of the equine athlete.
The Team
Will Phipps
Executive Director / General Manager
Juan Cordova
Track Superintendent
Dr Kathy Anderson
Equine Safety Director and Treasurer
Graham Motion
Vice President
Bruce Jackson
President
Board of Directors
Officers:
Bruce Jackson
President
Term 2026
Graham Motion
Vice President
Term 2027
Anita Motion
Secretary
Term 2028
Dr Kathy Anderson
Treasurer
Term 2027
Directors:
Buddy Jones
Term 2026
Mark Shuman
Term 2027
Phil Schoenthal
Term 2027
Mike Trombetta
Term 2028
Chuck Lawrence
Term 2028
Michele Nihei
Term 2028
Dr Erika Beck
Term 2028
Fairhill Training Center
Board Meetings Schedule