According to multiple reports, representatives of the U.S. Army announced August 6 at a Middleburg, Virginia, town meeting that the Army has finalized its purchase of the Middleburg Training Center from Northern Virginia entrepreneur Charles “Chuck” Kuhn. The sale price was unavailable at press time.
The 149-acre center, located near the historic village of St. Louis, features a 7/8-mile training track, 11 barns and numerous paddocks. Its history as a racehorse training facility dates to the 1950s, when the late philanthropist and horseman Paul Mellon first established the center.
The Army purchased it as a new permanent home for the 73 caisson horses of its “Old Guard” unit. The transfer of ownership will reportedly take place November 1.
The purchase has raised concern among local horsemen and those working at the center, which has been described as a “major hub” for Virginia’s Thoroughbred industry. Besides the loss of jobs and related economic activity, some worry about the broader implications for Virginia’s racing industry. Still others have expressed interest in the possibility of shared use, perhaps through a lease of the training track and a few of the barns. However, Army representatives offered no promises about this at the meeting, noting the need to refer to legal counsel.
About the Old Guard
The horses of the Military Mounted Battalion (MMB) of the U.S. Army’s 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment are part of the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the country. Nicknamed the “Old Guard,” this is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the president. The caisson horses are best known for their role in the military funeral processions at Virginia’s Arlington National Cemetery.
The Army had been searching for a new permanent home for its equine charges for the past two years. It was a necessary step after an investigation following several caisson horse deaths deemed conditions at their old Fort Myer stables unsuitable.
In the interim, the Army has been leasing space for its horses at a facility in Aldie, Virginia. During this “rebuilding” period, it has been committed to improving their health and well-being as part of a five-pronged plan.
Landing page image of Middleburg Training Center from US Army Corps of Engineers
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