Pimlico Race Course is currently down to 12 days of live racing per yearGETTY IMAGES
Relocating the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park "appears closer than ever, with the owners of Maryland’s two thoroughbred tracks on Saturday saying they prefer a move" instead of rebuilding the aging Baltimore facility, according to Dave Sheinin of the WASHINGTON POST. Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo said, "I’m understanding of the city and the historical value of the race being run here. ... But at the same time, from a business perspective, obviously, we struggle to see why you would rebuild this facility. We have another facility that you put a lot of money [into] and that actually gives a little bit of a better experience." Sheinin noted should Pimlico lose the Preakness, it "would likely be finished as a horse racing venue." The track currently is "down to 12 days of live racing per year." Ever since the Stronach Group "began pouring tens of millions of dollars into upgrades at Laurel Park some 10 years ago, speculation has grown about the potential move of the Preakness" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/20).
DIFFERENT TONE THIS YEAR: BLOODHORSE's Jeremy Balan noted Ritvo "didn't provide anything outside of the box from what he's said in recent years about possibly moving the second leg of the Triple Crown to Laurel Park, but there was something different." The words were "essentially the same, but there was a sense of finality." Ritvo said that if the Maryland Stadium Authority "wants the Preakness to stay at Pimlico, Baltimore and Maryland will have to foot the bill." That "would cost about" $250-322M. Ritvo: "We're not going to pour millions and millions of dollars -- hundreds of millions of dollars -- into the facility here and continue to renovate Laurel." He said that the political and legislative hurdles of moving the race "could be significant," but added if pressed, Laurel "could be ready" by '20 (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/21). Ritvo added, "If the state -- and obviously I say city and state because I don’t believe the city can do it either -- if the state believed that there was a commitment that needed to be done through the (Maryland) Stadium Authority or something, obviously that’s something that we would consider. We want to make sure we’re not here holding a gun to anyone’s head or looking for a handout." In Baltimore, Don Markus noted Ritvo "acknowledged moving to Laurel would come at a cost in terms of attendance for an event that drew a record crowd of over 140,000 last year." He said, "We’d have a smaller attendance. Everything is geared more to the premium quality seats. ... We would try to get a real layout in my head of what Laurel would look like with about 75,000 or 80,000 people" (BALTIMORE SUN, 5/20).
RAINY DAYS: In Baltimore, Scott Dance reported while Stronach invested in Pimlico and constructed the elevated chalet structures in place of some hospitality tents for Saturday’s event, Jockey club officials said that in the "most definitive terms to date that they have no plans to make the investments that would be necessary to maintain Pimlico as the Preakness’ permanent home." Stronach has invested $30M in "recent years in upgrades to Laurel Park, where it hosts 159 racing days to Pimlico’s 12." They have also invested $20M "in Pimlico during the same period" (BALTIMORE SUN, 5/20). Also in Baltimore, Peter Schmuck wrote the effects of heavy rain on the Pimlico grandstand make it "no wonder" that Stronach Group COO Tim Ritvo "couldn’t hide his impatience with the facility." However, he "made it clearer than ever that the Stronach Group is not interested in investing significant money in a renovation of the old racetrack." In fact, he "left the distinct impression that barring some dramatic infusion of local government funding to renovate Pimlico, Maryland’s signature sporting event is headed for Laurel Park" (BALTIMORE SUN, 5/20).
