Tropical Racing Joins Fair Hill Roster of Barn Owners

Fair Hill Training Center today announced that Tropical Racing has joined its roster of barn owners. With the acquisition of the newly constructed Parlo II barn, Tropical, a racing syndicate, secures access to one of the most innovative Thoroughbred training centers in the United States. "Fair Hill represents the gold standard in equine innovation," said Tropical Racing CEO Troy Levy. "It's world-class facilities position our horses for success at the highest level, while unlocking direct access to more than $350 million in East Coast purses—a pivotal step in our nationwide growth strategy." Tropical Racing's training operation at Fair Hill will be led by Michelle Nihei, a former neuroscience professor with a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. In 2001, she left academia to pursue horse racing full time, joining Todd Pletcher's stable in 2003. She went on to become the only female trainer to win the grade 1 Jamaica. Tropical purchased the Parlo II barn from longtime Fair Hill figures Michael Matz and Dr. Kathleen Anderson. Matz has trained at Fair Hill for more than 20 years, with stakes winners that include classic winners Barbaro, and Union Rags. Fair Hill has produced champions at every level of the sport, including winners of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Dubai World Cup (G1), and seven Breeders' Cup titles. In 2023, that tradition continued as Fair Hill-based trainers sent out 2,557 starters and earned more than $22 million in purses. That success is built on facilities designed for peak performance. Fair Hill provides three world-class training surfaces: dirt, turf, and synthetic. A next-generation Tapeta upgrade is underway—the same surface being installed at Belmont Park as part of its $455 million racetrack redevelopment. Strategically located just 10 minutes from I-95, Fair Hill offers direct access to 12 East Coast racetracks.