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Preakness Could Move From Pimlico After Next Year's Race

It is hoped that new amenities at Pimlico will help sell guests on coming back next yeargetty images

The owners of Pimlico Race Course said that they are "committed to holding the Preakness Stakes" at the 148-year-old Baltimore track for one more year, but after that, "all bets are off," according to Jeff Barker of the BALTIMORE SUN. The Stronach Group "hopes that new amenities this year ... will help sell guests on coming back next year." Beyond that, company officials said that it would "be premature to speculate" where the Preakness will be held as they "await the critical second phase of a $600,000 Maryland Stadium Authority study on options for Pimlico's future." Stronach's holdings include Laurel Park, which the company said would "be a candidate to stage the Preakness." Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo and Chair & President Belinda Stronach "frequently expressed their commitment to 'the State of Maryland,' but not to Baltimore." Ritvo: "The Preakness is not leaving the state of Maryland ever." Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and other city officials also are "making a concerted effort to keep the Preakness." Pugh said, "Believe me, this will be a public-private partnership." The Stronach Group would "need legislative support to move the Preakness to Laurel." Under Maryland law, the race "can be moved to another track in Maryland 'only as a result of a disaster or emergency.'" Ritvo said that the structure of Pimlico would "need to be completely rebuilt -- which would cost more than renovating it -- and that Stronach has no plans to foot the bill." Meanwhile, because the infield at Laurel is part of a stormwater management system, it "could not host Pimlico-style concerts" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 5/11).

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