Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and the Stronach Group yesterday said that they "prefer to build a new racetrack that would play host to the Preakness rather than renovate Pimlico Race Course," but where the new track could go is "still up in the air," according to Jonathan Munshaw of the BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL. Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo said that the company "favors a plan to build a new track rather than invest in Pimlico." A study released by the Maryland Stadium Authority in February estimated it would cost $320M to "bring Pimlico up to modern standards and keep the Preakness in Baltimore long-term." Pugh: "We've been told that it's about $300 million to redo Pimlico. I say $300 million could build a new one." Pugh said that she "would prefer the Stronach Group build on or near the site of the current race course to spur development in the northern part of the city." Pugh added that she "remained confident that the Preakness will remain in Baltimore in the long-term." Asked yesterday about Pugh's comments, Ritvo "wouldn't commit to building a new facility in Baltimore." He said that the Stronach Group "views the second leg of the Triple Crown more as a Maryland event than a Baltimore one" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/26).
