Lexington Sporting Club Alters Plans With Ashwood Site

Lexington Sporting Club made a statement via Twitter July 28, stating they no longer plan to pursue implementing the youth recreational soccer fields in the Agricultural Rural Zone located off Newtown Pike (currently Ashwood Training Center). The public hearing to discuss the Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments to the Ashwood Training Center site, which had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Lexington’s City Hall, has been postponed.

Official statement from the Club. pic.twitter.com/2FC4pqh160

— Lexington Sporting Club (@LexSporting) July 28, 2022

As noted in the statement from Lexington Sporting Club, they have decided to move in another direction after discussions with Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, community leaders, and trusted colleagues in the farm community. This comes as a relief to all local industry members opposed to the proposed soccer facility that would have replaced the established farm and training center on the Ashwood property. Trainers with horses stabled there began vacating their horses from Ashwood in late June.

Current lessee Marc Ricker, owner of Ashwood Training Center, spoke to BloodHorse Thursday, commenting, "At this time, I will not be making any changes to my current plans for the back portion of the farm, which previously housed independent trainers. For the time being, I will continue to focus on the front portion as a yearling breaking and layup facility."

Ricker added: "I will begin discussions with Anderson Communities to discuss making necessary improvements to the barns and track which would be necessary to reopen in the future. If purchasing the property from Anderson becomes a possibility, I will also pursue that to help ensure the property's existence as an agricultural asset to the community."