GMP Farm Looks Ahead After a Banner Summer

When Anthony Melfi purchased a 100-acre property in Schuylerville, New York two years ago, he and his partner Gary Gullo did not want to have what would be just another farm. Instead, they hoped to create something that could have a lasting impact on the sport of racing.

“We thought that if we could get something that's unique, we could improve the horse racing business a little bit,” explained Gullo. “We didn't want to have a regular farm just to have a farm. We wanted to make a difference, trying to help this industry out as best as possible.”

Their vision would soon become GMP Farm, an equine rehabilitation and training center with state-of-the-art facilities and a long list of services available to help equine athletes return to top form.

They started with the original barn, which was once home to Stone Bridge Farm training center, but quickly began construction on a second due to high demand. They redid the base of their seven-eighths Tapeta training track and developed an expansive list of rehabilitation services including a cold water spa, Theraplates, cryotherapy, thermal imaging, laser therapy and more. This spring, they added an equine hyperbaric chamber.

Melfi and Gullo's efforts were rewarded this year as GMP Farm has been a model of success. With a capacity of 60 horses, the operation located 15 minutes from Saratoga has been in full swing as it has attracted horses from some of the top barns in the country.

“Bill Mott has been a big supporter of us,” said Gullo. “Todd Pletcher, Linda Rice, Rudy Rodriguez, Ray Handal–we have all different trainers sending us horses. It's a pleasure to have them have faith in us to get their horses right and send them back.”

GMP Farm's hyperbaric chamber was added early this year | Katie Petrunyak

A veteran trainer himself before he teamed up with his longtime client Melfi to start GMP Stable in 2020, Gullo said the expertise his team has to offer has been a major factor in getting GMP Farm off and running.

“We know how to take care of horses and we know what to look for,” he explained. “When they leave here, they look great. Their weight is good and they're dappled out. Being a trainer, I know what I expected when horses came off the farm and 90% of the time they were too fat or to thin. Then I would have to give them 30 days or so just to get them back to where I wanted them. We know what other trainers expect and we better deliver what they want.”

GMP Farm is managed by Steve Rydowski, who worked under Hall of Famer John Nerud and was a longtime assistant for Gullo.

“We've gotten very good reviews,” said Rydowski. “A lot of owners will touch back with me after the horse ran and they'll say, 'Wow, this horse ran one of the best races he's run.' So it's been very positive. Between all of us, we're very hands on. We pay attention to detail with the horse, determining what's going on and where to go from there on each individual horse.”

The facility is not restricted to racehorses. Gullo estimated that about 65% of the horses in their care have been Thoroughbreds, but they've also brought in many Standardbreds. They've also worked with a number of equestrian-type horses, even attracting an Olympic-level jumper.

GMP Farm was a popular destination for both horses and humans during the Saratoga race meet. Not only did many of the top horsemen in the business stop by to see the evolution of the operation, but the farm was also the host of a performance of Robert Montano's Off-Broadway show “Small” and it brought in visitors looking to enjoy the property's human spa destination, Sacred Spa and Wellness.

While the hubbub of the Saratoga season has since quieted down, Gullo said he believes that their facility will stay busy on into next year, noting that the additions of a temperature-controlled barn last year and the hyperbaric chamber this spring should attract all types of equine athletes in the coming months.

“Last year we might have been 30% full in the wintertime,” he shared. “But I feel like this winter there are going to be more people from Belmont that will ship up and more of the trotters that will be at Saratoga or Yonkers. And you've also got your equestrian horses that are starting to funnel in.”

But Gullo isn't all that worried about having a packed barn year-round. He said GMP Farm is in it for the long game.

“We're really not looking so much at numbers,” he said. “We're looking at building something that's going to be great for the horses. We just want to have the horses and do the great job that we do.”

Gullo and Melfi are already looking into how they can continue to improve their facility. Gullo said they are considering the additions of a swimming pool and an aqua-treadmill.

Even as demand grows as more owners and trainers utilize their services, Gullo said they don't intend on increasing their intake too much. Instead, he said they have their sights on expanding in a different way.

“We don't want to get too big,” he said. “Actually we're looking at maybe trying to have this as a template to go somewhere else with this type of thing. Maybe Ocala, the World Equestrian Center, or Wellington–somewhere like that where we could do the same thing.”

The key to future success, he reiterated, will be having the right people behind the project.

“You can have this beautiful place that looks great, but if you don't have the right people in place, it's going to fail. You have to have qualified people that know what they're doing. The people who work here make it special. Anthony makes it special. There are a lot of moving parts, but everybody's proud of it. And that makes a difference too, when you're really proud of what you do.”

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Annual Breakfast at the Gallops Scheduled for Mar. 18

The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism will host the 14th annual Breakfast at the Gallops Friday, Mar. 18, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Aiken Training Track.

Local trainers will be on hand to talk to participants about the various training methods used at Aiken. Those in attendance should enter the Two Notch Road entrance closest to Audubon Drive. Vehicles must stop for all horses. A light breakfast begins at 8 a.m. This year's guest speaker is Caton Bredar.

Tickets for Breakfast at the Gallops are $20 each in advance and $25 each at the gate. Space is limited. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

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Keeneland Completes Construction Of Six New Barns, Other Enhancements At Thoroughbred Center

Keeneland today announced the completion of construction of six new barns and other enhancements at The Thoroughbred Center (TTC), its 245-acre, year-round training facility on Paris Pike on the northeast side of Lexington.

The six new barns contain a total of 240 stalls and feature:

· Wider shedrows to accommodate safe winter training for horses housed year-round;

· Interior and exterior wash stalls;

· Dedicated interior feed rooms along with dedicated hay/bedding storage;

· Office tack rooms for trainers; and

· A stall layout design that maximizes lighting and airflow with spacious windows and doors to the benefit of a healthy training environment for both horses and people.

Additionally, improved and dedicated parking was created throughout the facility, and new muck pit construction segregates horse traffic from human and equipment traffic for safety during training hours.

“This investment reflects Keeneland's confidence in the future of the Thoroughbred industry and the strength of Kentucky racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “TTC is critical to the continued health of the Kentucky racing circuit. We are excited to make these improvements as part of our commitment to the horses and the people we serve.”

Funding for the TTC barn construction project was aided by $500,000 from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, which included a matching program with counties in the region with residents who benefit from this investment by Keeneland in the TTC. Each county that collaborated on the project – Fayette, Lexington, Woodford, Scott and Jessamine – and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board has a correspondingly designated barn named in appreciation of their commitment.

“We especially thank Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles for his help in securing funds toward completion of this project, which benefits all of Kentucky racing,” Keeneland Vice President of Equine Safety Dr. Stuart Brown said. “This partnership represents the first significant equine-related collaboration for a facility construction project in animal agriculture. It also helps grow the equine footprint in Kentucky's agriculture space, and enhances reinvestment in animal agriculture for the Commonwealth to approach $100 million in overall support.”

Keeneland has owned The Thoroughbred Center, which originally opened in 1969, since April 2000. The facility has two dirt tracks: 5 furlongs and 7½ furlongs. Located within a six-hour drive of 10 race tracks, TTC is home to 831 horses, many of whom reside there year-round.

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Tapeta Farm for Sale

Tapeta Farm, owned and operated by trainer Michael Dickinson, has been listed for sale by Goffs Property, part of the Goffs Group. The training center is situated on 196 acres at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay on the Elk River, mid-way between New York City and Washington D.C.

As a trainer, Dickinson is probably best known for winning the 1996 and 1998 Breeders' Cup Mile with Da Hoss. He also is responsible for developing the year-round Tapeta training surface.

Tapeta Farm offers 30 acres of paddocks, including turnout paddocks covering 20 acres, two movable round pens, organic grazing areas, and two sand pens. Also, the property provides six different season turf tracks, a 4,500 sq. foot main house and a Performance Centre, which includes equine equipment such as a cold saltwater spa, salt room, vibrating platform, and three examining stalls. The performance centre also houses the auxiliary energy system as well as a covered eight-horse Euro-Cizer, and the synthetic track surface research lab. Adjacent to the Performance Centre is the swimming pond with central dock. Other features of the farm–a 40-stall barn, offering a well-water treatment facility, six-air-changes-per-hour ventilator system, three hay steamers, organic fly-spray system and a hay storage area.

For more information, click here.

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