NYRA buys Sugar Maple Farm to turn into multi-use horse center

The New York Racing Association through a wholly owned subsidiary has acquired a large parcel of land in Duchess County, N.Y., known as Sugar Maple Farm.

The 466-acre property, which was previously utilized as a breeding farm, could be appropriate for a wide array of uses including as a new center for equine health and safety research, veterinary education programing, Thoroughbred aftercare as well as off-track training and layup services.

“The acquisition of Sugar Maple Farm will, for the first time, allow NYRA to directly contribute to New York’s breeding industry and strengthen the New York-bred program,” said Pat McKenna, vice president for communications for the association. “NYRA jumped at the opportunity to protect Sugar Maple Farm, because it will strengthen the foundation of New York state’s Thoroughbred racing ecosystem, create jobs in the Hudson Valley, enhance equine safety and preserve important open space.”

Thoroughbred Daily News reported it was a $12.1 million deal that was completed Dec. 29.

Sugar Maple Farm is a 466-acre farm located in Poughquag, Dutchess County, N.Y. The farm is located approximately one hour from Belmont Park and two hours from Saratoga. The property currently offers breeding and foaling infrastructure including a stallion barn and breeding shed, a foaling barn, a receiving barn. a yearling barn and turnout paddocks.

The acquisition of the property will allow NYRA to pursue adding an equine-health and safety-research center, veterinary-education programing in partnership with accredited New York state-based colleges of veterinary medicine, dedicated Thoroughbred-aftercare facilities, off-track training including trails for walking, jogging and galloping, equine hydrotherapy and swimming pools, layup boarding and related services for Thoroughbreds rehabilitating injury and equine career education and job opportunities and internships for the local community.