The neat rows of white folding chairs on Pimlico’s expansive apron ready for patrons at the Preakness. (Maribeth Kalinich)
Op/Ed by Maribeth Kalinich
Saturday, many of us said “goodbye” to an old friend. Pimlico Race Course held its last day of live racing until it rises from the ashes like the phoenix.
Many on social media have differing opinions of what will happen and the present condition of the facility.
The plan is to start demolition on July 1, 2025, and have it all completed by May of 2027.
This is more than possible as the existing clubhouse was built (including demo of existing buildings) in six months. That’s right, six months—between the Spring ended May 22 and Fall meet beginning November 14, 1960. It had taken six years to get the approval for this project.
The Baltimore Sun reported in September 1960:
“The four-story concrete, steel and glass building is scheduled for use when Pimlico opens its one hundred forty-third meeting November 14.
“The new clubhouse will have 1,000 upholstered seats and a 350-seat dining room. It will house an indoor paddock, jockey quarters, service and storage area, a new horsemen’s lounge and all of the administration offices of the club.
“The entrance to the clubhouse, being erected on the site of the former paddock and administration building, will be from Hayward Avenue. A floating staircase, centered around a fountain, and two 30-passenger elevators (which actually became one) will move patrons from the ground level to the main floors above.
“The first and third floors, each 254 feet long and 120 feet deep, will feature pari-mutuel services exclusively. All service functions — restrooms, restaurants and offices — will be on this intermediate level. A cantilevered concrete overhang on three sides of the building will provide protection against the weather for fans both approaching the entrance and on the clubhouse terrace overlooking the track. The building will be heated as well as air-cooled.
“Built adjoining the grandstand, a $1.5 million structure erected in 1954 and subsequently enlarged and glass enclosed in 1959, the clubhouse will be connected to it by two pedestrian ramps.”
That addition/renovation cost $1 million and the owners at the time, the Cohen Brothers, continued to add and refine the facility for about 20 years. Then in the 1980s it seemed their enthusiasm for Pimlico was waning.
They had lost the old member’s clubhouse to the fire and a lot of money to the business. But they left their stamp all over Pimlico from the Golden Horses to the Middleman Murals.
Frank De Francis tried to bring some life back into the historic building with the sports palace and a few other amenities for fans but sadly his tenure was cut short.
When son Joe and daughter Karin stepped into his shoes, they tried their best to pick up the torch and create new momentum. And it was working.
Joe De Francis was always a presence at the tracks talking to horsemen to see what they needed to keep them running in Maryland
Karin De Francis created a brilliant marketing plan that included fans of all ages from the children’s Pony Pals to the special menus for the elders of the industry on holidays like Thanksgiving.
I feel the younger De Francises were unfairly criticized for Pimlico’s demise. By the time their family stepped in Pimlico was so far beyond meeting building codes that if you wanted to improve and expand you had to first fix 10 other things first.
Their only option to save Pimlico was to bring in someone with the money who could take on this massive project.
Frank Stronach had vision and passion and more importantly he had the money. While his heart was in the game for Pimlico and Maryland Racing his head was elsewhere with breeding, other tracks and political aspirations.
In 2001, Stronach told Bloodhorse “The racing world will look at us by what we do at Pimlico. It’s a top priority.”
Stronach also said the entire place would be leveled and rebuilt and the Preakness would temporarily be moved to Laurel Park. Sound familiar?
So, let’s skip to the future since we’re already here.
The plan is all of the above. But … they need to put it back for $200 million.
To put that into perspective that is what Churchill Downs spent on their new paddock.
The new Belmont Park is costing an estimated $455 million and will be much smaller than historic Belmont. A third to be exact.
Pimlico has to compete with these two entities for the Triple Crown buzz and support from fans and media.
This year the support for Pimlico’s 150th Preakness was a bit dismal. Empty stands and infield. Empty hallways.
BBC reported that attendance at the Preakness dropped from 131,000 in 2019 to 46,000 in 2024.
Very sad to see the lack of support for this event considering 1/ST really stepped up its marketing and branding for the 150.
Is the answer to not only rejuvenate Pimlico but the Preakness itself?
Should we spread out the Triple Crown races? Not because horses cannot run back in two weeks although apparently many cannot (with the exception of Journalism and Sandman).
Racing has no offseason like football and baseball where they build momentum for fans returning to the stands. Racing must pace its momentum and perhaps the two-week schedule just doesn’t suit fans’ taste when baseball is in early season, basketball and hockey are wrapping up their seasons and football is already stirring interest with its draft.
How are we going to take Pimlico apart and put it back together for $200 million in one year? Will the Preakness really return to Pimlico once it has moved to Laurel Park? Will racing and Pimlico survive a recession and renovation?
So many questions and so little time as the clock is ticking on Maryland Racing like an hourglass running out of sand from the historic track.
With the wrecking ball coming for both Pimlico and the Maryland Thoroughbred Racing Operating Authority (MTROA), it’s quite hard to see the light at the end of the Pimlico tunnel.
