Captain James Sulivane (sometimes spelled Sullivane) was the primary catalyst in the growth and development the town of East New Market, Maryland. In 1776, James Sulivane combined several tracts of land and resurveyed the 933-acre (3.78 km2) tract as "Newmarket". In 1785 he carved out the town's first 20 lots on the northwest part of his property. James Sulivane chose the name "New Market" most probably because he had horse racing in mind. Newmarket, Suffolk is the notable horse racing town in England. Horse Racing had a short, but prominent history in Newmarket (as it was then known), Dorchester County. Horse racing was first mentioned as early as 1777 in a report by Thomas Sparrow to the Maryland Council of Safety. "...I intended next to go to New Market, Dorchester County as I understoo