Dreams of a thoroughbred stallion operation that evoked the state's racing glory days were dealt a setback when the Maryland Stallion Station left its north Baltimore County home and relocated its horses to survive the tough economy.
However, Stallion Station president Don Litz is hopeful that by scaling back some of the expenses of the stud operation, the business can thrive while also giving a boost to the two farms where the stallions now stand. Four of the horses were moved to Bonita Farm in Harford County at the end of last year, and three others are at Shamrock Farm in Carroll County.
"I'm very grateful for their support," Litz said of the new homes for the horses. A three-decade horse industry veteran, Litz runs the stallion operation for about two dozen investors with some of the horses majority-owned by the group and a few others managed for other owners. Stud fees for the seven stallions range from $2,500 to $6,500.
When the Stallion Station - a five-year-old venture promoting some of the state's most productive and promising sires - was at its former site in Glyndon, it was within a short gallop of legendary Sagamore Farm, the former Alfred Vanderbilt spread now owned by Under Armour chief executive officer Kevin Plank. Sagamore had been home to Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Native Dancer.
"At the time, I felt we may be able to promote our business associating it with the atmosphere of Sagamore Farm and Native Dancer," Litz said. "I felt that had real cachet to it - maybe I was being a romantic."
It's hardly a secret that horse racing has struggled as other forms of gambling have been legalized in more states over the past 30 years, and Maryland horse interests have suffered as surrounding states introduced slots casinos with those revenues going to fatten track purses.
From 1993 to 2007, the number of stallions standing in Maryland dropped from 160 to 63. Not surprisingly, foals sired by Maryland stallions also declined over the same period, from 1,532 to 996.
As economic circumstances became more difficult for the Stallion Station, Litz - who had built a state-of-the-art barn and breeding shed to mirror the world-famous Lane's End breeding farm in Lexington, Ky. - attempted to negotiate new lease arrangements with the landowner. When that failed, Litz went looking late last year for farms to house his horses.
