It is not clear “how serious Churchill Downs’ interest is or whether the company made a formal or informal offer to Pimlico or the state about buying the track"Getty Images
Churchill Downs Inc. has made an “overture” to “buy Pimlico,” home of the Preakness Stakes, according to sources cited by Pamela Wood of the BALTIMORE BANNER. A source said that Churchill has been “lobbying to derail a bill in the state legislature that’s necessary for the state ownership deal to go through.” Such a deal would give Churchill Downs Inc. "control of the first two legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown," but it is not clear “how serious Churchill Downs’ interest is or whether the company made a formal or informal offer to Pimlico or the state about buying the track.” Wood noted some in Annapolis have “privately expressed skepticism about Churchill’s motives.” Stronach’s 1/ST Racing and Gaming Exec. Vice Chair Craig Fravel said in a statement that there is “no pending offer from Churchill Downs to his company, 'which is “not in any negotiation with them.'" Wood noted Churchill’s involvement “could complicate efforts to execute the state takeover plan for Pimlico,” which involves legislation that is pending in the final days of the Maryland General Assembly session. Several lawmakers have “expressed reservations about the state taking over the track and running thoroughbred racing, along with some elements of the plan to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations” (BALTIMORE BANNER, 4/3).
