MGC visits Norfolk’s Stonewall Farm
- September 24, 2024
- by Connor Donahue
- 0 comments
On Friday, September 13, members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) visited Stonewall Farm in Norfolk. The delegation included Interim Chair Jordan Maynard and Commissioners Nakisha Skinner, Eileen O’Brien, and Brad Hill.
Stonewall Farm, a fourth-generation horse breeding property, is owned and operated by Nancy Longobardi, with assistance from her nephew Domenic Longobardi. Nancy holds dual roles as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts (SOM), the MGC-authorized representative organization for Standardbred Breeders. The SOM aims to promote standardbred horse breeding and racing in Massachusetts, working to improve the breed and implement programs that benefit its members.
>>More: Horse Racing in Massachusetts
The Longobardis led the commissioners on an extensive tour of the facilities. They showcase a newly constructed barn that houses nearly a dozen racehorses. The group also visited the farm’s private track, where they witnessed two young horses, barely five months old, grazing in the early September sun.
>>Related: Inside the MGC’s Division of Racing
The visit underscored the MGC’s interest in understanding the broader impact of the racing industry on local businesses in Massachusetts. It gave the Commission a firsthand look at how the Race Horse Development Fund (RHDF) contributes to the growth and sustainability of the state’s racehorse industry. Stonewall Farm’s recent construction of the new barn was made possible, in part, by funds from the RHDF.
The tour offered valuable insights into the operations of a working horse breeding farm and its role in the larger ecosystem of Massachusetts’ horseracing industry.
Photos from the entire visit can be found below: