A view of Pimlico and Turfside Terrace from the press box. (Maribeth Kalinich)
Breaking News Puts Pimlico’s Future in Flux
By Maribeth Kalinich UPDATED 4/8/25 11:30 AM
I was recently told by a representative of the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) that Pimlico Race Course will possibly be submitted to the National Register of Historic Places (Hialeah Park has been on the Register for decades). But what will be left of its history? And how will the designation help preserve the historic facility?
The future of Pimlico is complicated as is the future of Maryland horse racing.
It became much more complicated over the weekend as the Maryland General Assembly winds down this session and heads to sine die on Monday.
In a bold and surprising move, the Maryland General Assembly has disbanded the organization they just created to monitor and implement the future of Maryland Horse Racing and Pimlico Race Course.
The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA) was created by the legislature in SB 720 and became effective in 2023 with a termination date of June 30, 2027. Through new legislation, the MTROA will cease operations on June 30 of this year.
From SDAT
The application for Historic status states that the owner must apply. The owner of record according to the State Dept. of Taxation site is MTROA.
To get back to the legislation that will directly impact this project, or not, depending on how you interpret the latest news reports and statements…
This was first reported in the The Daily Record as part of its legislative update before sine die on Monday. The Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (MTHA) released a “clarifying” statement the following day.
“A report published in today’s The Daily Record, which states that the State of Maryland “will abandon its plans for a new state nonprofit that would run day-to-day racing and training operations in Maryland” is erroneous and has led to unnecessary confusion about the future of Maryland racing and the Pimlico Plus Plan. We have requested a correction.
To the contrary, the State’s 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act includes language transferring oversight of the new nonprofit—The Maryland Jockey Club—from the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority (MTROA) to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO). This change, which is supported by the industry’s stakeholders, is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Pimlico Plus plan and, most importantly, completion of the formation of the nonprofit operator. The purpose for the MTROA has been fulfilled and it is now time to completely transition Maryland thoroughbred racing to The Maryland Jockey Club.
The Pimlico Plus Plan remains fully on track under the auspices of the Maryland Stadium Authority, with Pimlico’s demolition scheduled after the Preakness, and the MTHA looks forward to working closely with MEDCO and as a partner with The Maryland Jockey Club as the industry transitions to a new, state-of-the-art Pimlico facility and a world-class training center at Shamrock Farm.”
Maryland legislators were frustrated after the recent report on the project and felt a “change of guard” will offer more transparency.
“We just wanted some more oversight, to be able to understand and know what’s going on in real time, which wasn’t happening,” Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, chair of the House of Delegates committee told The Baltimore Banner.
Many in the Maryland racing industry have expressed frustration that the Authority had not yet appointed a board of directors for the newly minted The Maryland Jockey Club.
The Maryland Jockey Club will now be overseen by MEDCO with their first move to appoint the board.
The Pimlico Plus Plan will continue as it has been under the Maryland Stadium Authority, who have be co-monitoring the progress with MTROA.
No taxpayer money to fund the project is earmarked under the new legislation nor was it under the old.
The sale of the bonds that will be used to finance construction in addition to funds already in place from the slots revenues.
MSA stated in an email that they hope to start selling the bonds sometime this summer.
With the new Federal tariffs in place the cost of the project will increase exponentially especially for building supplies that are imported.
There are still points that require clarification, such as no mention in any news reports of an additional transfer of ownership after June 30.
To add to the confusion, the MTROA has a public meeting regarding Pimlico (in conjunction with the Pimlico Community Advisory Board and the MSA) on their schedule for May 1 at Sinai Hospital.
The Amendment
Beginning on page 14 of the copy of the Amendment obtained by Past The Wire, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) (HB 352/SB 321) sets forth Pimlico’s possible future.
The Amendment states that MSA is the successor entity to MTROA in planning, design, and construction and ownership of a racing and community development project in connection with MEDCO.
The Amendment also states that MSA and MEDCO both have the power to replace the MTROA with another business entity but stipulates this is a nonprofit and may not be construed to be an agency or instrument of the state or a unit of the executive branch for any purpose.
Article – Economic Development
10-646.1.
(a) Except as allowed by §10-639 of this subtitle, to finance the planning, design, and construction of any segment of a racing facility [on behalf of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority,] the Authority shall comply with this section.
(b) (5) anticipated project [costs, as determined by the MTROA,] COSTS of at least $250,000,000 for the Pimlico racing facility and $110,000,000 for the training facility site; and
(d) (1) In this subsection, “long-term agreement” includes a lease, operating, joint venture, or management agreement with a minimum term [that coincides with or exceeds the initial arm of the bone issued for a racing facility] ESTABLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY.
The Amendment also included language about the viability of horse racing itself.
Additional language in the Amendment includes Open Purse – Organization Representing Owners and Trainers. (See below)
Pimlico’s Fuzzy Future and Cloudy Past
In 2012, Maryland racing was in a crisis. There were no racing dates approved for the following year until the last moment in December.
Things would change in 2013 with the 10-year Agreement that gave the industry access to slots funds after the facilities failed to add a casino in 2008.
The deal called for Pimlico and Laurel Park to remain open for year-round racing, training and stabling for the balance of the contract. Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas indicated Pimlico and Laurel would maintain a minimum of 1,900 stalls.
The 2013 racing season featured 146 days of live racing days at the major Maryland tracks, the same number as in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Maryland Jockey Club had to guarantee a minimum of 100 days a year for the balance of the agreement. There were provisions in the contract for the horsemen to race additional days through a revenue-sharing program.
“We created a plan that benefits everyone and develops a sustainable model for the future,” said Chuckas. “I would like to thank Governor Martin O’Malley for his continued support of the industry. We appreciate his involvement two years ago which set-up the framework for this deal. We appreciate Maryland Racing Commissioners John McDaniel and Bruce Quade for their commitment as well as the leadership from the MTHA and MBHA for working with us to make this happen.”
The iconic white folding chairs all neatly in rows awaiting the crowd for the Preakness (Maribeth Kalinich)
That deal was due to sunset in 2023 but was given a lifeline. Actually, quite a few lifelines. And Pimlico would be studied for its future for almost a decade.
A 20-acre parcel of Pimlico was sold to Sinai Hospital in June of 2016 for $10 million. Sinai had wanted the parcel for at least a year and had been using the area for 10 years for employee park on weekdays. Previously used for parking of cars and trailers during the Preakness, Sinai had agreed to vacate the lots at that time.
William H. Cole IV, president of the Baltimore Development Corp., which is helping to fund the stadium authority’s study by Crossroads Consulting Services, said he was not concerned that reducing the size of the roughly 130-acre site might limit options.
“‘I’ve asked the question very directly and been assured repeatedly that it does not in any way affect the future of Preakness or Pimlico,’ Cole told the Baltimore Sun at the time. ‘If I thought for one second that it would have an adverse impact on the future of Pimlico, there’s no way that we’d be standing by idly, letting this happen.'”
Sinai Hospital, where LifeBridge Health’s headquarters was recently located, intended to develop the parcel. Their Center for Hope was intended to be the first step towards a 22-acre LifeBridge Health campus in Pimlico.
In October 2023, The Maryland Stadium Authority asked the hospital system to delay its plans until it determined the future of Pimlico Race Course.
Just before the parcel was sold, the MSA announced they would begin a two-part study of the facility to determine its viability in May.
In February 2017, Phase 1 of the study concluded that while the physical condition of the facilities at Pimlico presents significant challenges, there does not appear to be situational factors such as location, accessibility, the surrounding neighborhood, etc. that would negatively affect Pimlico Race Course’s ability to remain the long-term home of the Preakness Stakes.
MSA Pimlico renderingcourtesy of Populus.
Included was an architectural illustration of a new Pimlico facade with Victorian design elements from the Old Members Clubhouse that burned down in 1966.
These are excerpts from the MSA Phase 1 conclusion:
There were opportunities to enhance the Preakness and Pimlico experiences through a number of event design and operations shifts that could lead to greater guest satisfaction, improved operations, and higher event revenues.
The following key deficiencies were observed during facility walk- throughs and observations during the 2016 Preakness Stakes. These key deficiencies are described in more detail in the report.
MSA stated that Pimlico makes a good faith effort to provide accessible restrooms, seating, parking, and other services. However, the facilities were built in an era when many modern accessibility guidelines and regulations did not exist.
No significant renovation has been undertaken since 1984 resulting in significant facility challenges to fully comply with modern accessibility standards and expectations. Perhaps the most challenging modern accessibility standards to meet are compliance with code required numbers for restroom fixtures and exiting pathways as these require reallocation of significant square footage, utility infrastructure upgrades, and potential reorganization of circulation in the building.
A comprehensive review of the fire safety plans and systems in the facilities appeared warranted. Modernization of the existing fire protection systems and installation of systems where there is currently no protection or visual and audible notification is an important life safety priority was stated in the report. “A thorough review of the existing fire safety infrastructure and warning systems will be required to identify the full extent of issues to be addressed,” the report stated.
Restrooms are identified as one of the most critical issues in the existing venues because they are out of compliance with code required fixture counts and the current utility infrastructure for the restrooms is very old and subject to significant issues such as the incident in 2015 when a low water pressure issue rendered many of the toilets throughout the existing facilities inoperable on Preakness day. Typically when an existing facility undergoes a major renovation the code authority will require most aspects of the building to be brought up to modern code standards. The last major renovation at Pimlico was over 30 years ago in 1983. Even if the facility was brought up to code standards during that renovation the codes have evolved drastically over the past 30 years. It can reasonably be expected that any major renovation work undertaken at the Pimlico facilities will trigger the requirement to bring the venue up to existing code compliance.
In recent years, mechanical, electrical and plumbing system failures have occasionally struck during the peak loading for the Preakness day. In 1998, an electrical fire resulted in a blackout and more recently in 2015, low water pressure caused by peak demand rendered many toilets inoperable and an electrical failure was also experienced. Given that the existing toilet fixture count is below modern code requirements and that the building is only partially equipped with a fire protection system and without required visual and audible alarm systems throughout the building, Pimlico is at risk of an event with life safety implications.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in the facilities appear to be well-maintained. However, the infrastructure is overtaxed and much of the mechanical equipment is 30+ years old and at or near the end of its serviceable life.
The large, open Pimlico old grandstand built in 1922. (Public Domain)
MSA recommended making immediate repairs to the Old Grandstand in 2017. No work was done and the structure from 1922 was finally closed to the public in 2019.
The enclosed concourse at the first level of the Old Grandstand is underneath of the seating deck and features the old timber structure that has slowly been covered up with additions of built in concessions and mutuels over time. Guests enter this space through a glass vestibule at the north end of the building near the infield tunnel entry or at the south end through level 1 of the Grandstand. The enclosed portion of the first level runs the entire length of the Old Grandstand structure and is lined with restrooms and concessions on the east track side wall and mutuels on the west side. Facility maintenance offices and a maintenance shop are hidden away in one section of the west side toward the south end of the Old Grandstand.
Many of the older concession stands are not used and temporary concession booths are situated directly in front of the old concession windows. Stairways on the east side allow access up to the seating deck above the enclosed first level. Restrooms are located on the east side under the seating deck. The flooring is covered with old colored tile that has been worn through and patched in many areas. The vaulted ceiling is an open structure with views of the old timber. Most of the old timber has been painted red and white. Seating for level 1 is basically Grandstand seating contiguous with the level 2 seating and flowing down to the track side with open-air apron seating in folding chairs. The lower level seating areas are referred to as Apron Box and Concourse Box sections while the track side seating is denoted as Concourse Apron Box seating. The Old Grandstand structure provides shading and overhead weather protection for a portion of the Grandstand seating areas.
The Old Grandstand retains much of its historic look with its large timber structure and wood cladding. The Old Grandstand is somewhat of a mismatch to the Clubhouse and Grandstand, however, strong potential exists to preserve and renovate this structure with methods that will preserve its historic look and perhaps influence a more historic architectural style in the potential renovation or replacement of the Grandstand and Clubhouse.
Phase 2 was to identify potential development options that would create an optimal venue for the Preakness Stakes with year-round, non-racing options at Pimlico at an additional cost of $426,335 and funded by the Maryland Jockey Club, Baltimore Development Corporation, City of Baltimore and the MSA.
The first phase of study said “renovations” only would cost a minimum of $250 million. In Phase 2 of its study into the feasibility of rebuilding Pimlico Race Course, MSA said the cost for minimal capital improvements is now $424 million.
In 2018, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh and the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) strongly endorsed the MSA’s three-year plan for transforming Pimlico Race Course into a year-round, multi-use facility, which will connect the Park Heights neighborhood to the nearby Mt. Washington community and the Sinai/LifeBridge campus.
MSA’s proposal at the time called for a unique plaza (the “Palio”) to serve as a scenic saddling area during Preakness Week and to serve the community the rest of the year with public concerts, performing arts, festivals and open-air markets. The multi-use clubhouse would benefit the community for 51 weeks each year, with social and civic events, after-school and summer programs, meetings, conferences, and fast-growing popular activities such as drone racing and eSports.
“The redevelopment of Pimlico Race Course isn’t just about keeping the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore,” said Cole, president and CEO of BDC. “It’s about connecting Park Heights to an important anchor institution, LifeBridge Health, and to nearby neighborhoods. It’s about spurring equitable economic development that will encourage additional private investment and create jobs.”
That was just for Pimlico. In 2024, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill authorizing the sale of bonds up to $400 million that has to be split with the new training facility at Shamrock Farm.
A flashback—the General Assembly had passed legislation in 2020 to rebuild Pimlico and Laurel Park for $389 million. That never happened.
The starting gate at Pimlico in 2022 (Maribeth Kalinich)
The MTROA further studied Pimlico and made more recommendations for the facility and the complementary training center.
There is also the Pimlico Plus Plan: An opportunity for Baltimore and Park Heights neighborhood.
Also, on the MTROA website under Studies and Reports are two public meetings from October 2023 and a video from the MTHA.
It was announced in mid-December 2024 that Shamrock Farm was the location selected for the new training center. However, some of the locals are unhappy with that decision and even a Facebook group called Stop Shamrock Farm has popped up.
So, what are the plans for Pimlico’s future?
First, we celebrate the 150th Preakness Stakes there.
Then, the short answer is… everything goes.
There has been no mention of any part of the facility being saved and renovated.
According to reports and the actual pending bill, only the players in the alphabet soup have changed. The plans will go forward under new stewards.
The famous Pimlico elevator c. 1960 was put out of commission for good in 2023 (Maribeth Kalinich)
Everything will now be under the MSA and MEDCO.
The project is set to begin demolition 30 days after the Preakness May 17, with construction to commence sometime in the fall, MTROA chairman Greg Cross reported at the Authority’s first quarterly meeting on Feb. 7th.
At that same meeting a site plan was presented but MTROA would not provide me with a copy of the plan seen. Below is a screenshot of that plan which has no key to coordinate with numbers and an entire area covered in white-out fashion with “Clubhouse, Paddock, Plaza, & Parking Redesign in Progress.”
“I would expect that we will get a site plan and schematic design that can start to be shared in the next 60 to 90 days,” Cross said at the meeting. “[The Maryland Stadium Authority] controls the schedule, so we really react to what they give us and when they give it to us. That’s the window that I understand.”
One historic item that will remain is the racing oval that was once proposed to be “rotated.” This decision alone is stated to save $30 to $35 million.
What will not remain are the barns. The all-wooden stakes barns where the Preakness runners are housed are earmarked to be demolished as are the brick clad barns on the backstretch.
2023 Kentucky Derby champ Mage gets his pre-Preakness bath and trainer check at the historic stakes barn (Maribeth Kalinich)
Also gone will be the dorms for the workers. The proposal is for off-site housing to be built on a lot surrounding the facility.
Cross said that the “really dilapidated” Preakness barns are not worth saving, but historic elements of those barns are intended to be saved and repurposed.
Populous Consulting, which is handling aspects of the development, said Pimlico would have 410 “resident” stalls and 80 receiving stalls. More than half of them (260 stalls) will be located along the backstretch of the one-mile dirt surface where the current brick barns are located. There will be stalls adjacent to Rogers and Winner avenues as well as a 36-stall “Preakness compound” where the current stakes barns are located.
There is no site plan yet for the clubhouse/grandstand facility and no decision on how various parcels located along Northern Parkway will be used.
Demolition is set to begin 30 days after the Preakness Stakes is run. The Maryland Jockey Club said horses will be stabled at Pimlico from about a month before the six-day meet through May 31.
Cross also said the barns being constructed at Pimlico would be “hybrid,” with fabric-like roofs.
Pimlico’s old brick-clad barns and dorms will be the first to go (Maribeth Kalinich)
Currently, Pimlico has stalls for 665 horses and dorms for 132 workers.
Other changes will be capacity. Currently the main grandstand built in 1959 holds 5,691 patrons with an additional 1,269 in the clubhouse, 160 in the sports palace and 1,806 in dining. There is a total capacity in these areas of 8,926 patrons. The old grandstand built in 1922 and “decommissioned” in 2019 held 5,926 and is not included.
For the Preakness, capacity increases by almost 95,000 with Terrace Box Seats (4,000), Top of the Stretch (1,194), Turfside Terrace (1,500), Clubhouse Turn Reserve (672), Clubhouse Turn Suites (290), Village Sky Chalet (240), Corporate Village (5,000) with standing room estimate at 22,000 and Infield capacity estimated at 60,000.
The legislation calls for a smaller grandstand area with a 5,000-seat capacity. The facility will double as a 1,000-seat event space open year-round. A dining facility is also planned, along with a sports book, a hotel with views of the track, and a 2,000-space parking garage.
These are referenced on the site plan that was included in the 2024 MTROA report.
