During the Maryland General Assembly’s final session, a bill empowering the state to take over ownership of Pimlico Race Course and rehabilitate the outdated Baltimore facility was passed by the Senate with amendments and adopted by the House for the second time in a concurring vote. It now heads to Democratic Governor Wes Moore, who is anticipated to sign the proposal, which had bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
The Senate vote was 41-6, following a unanimous House vote in favor of the bill, according to Alan Foreman, general counsel for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The amended measure passed the House by a 105-32 vote, according to published reports.
The resolution empowered the Maryland Stadium Authority to issue up to $400 million in bonds to fund the construction of a new Pimlico, as well as the purchase and development of land for a year-round training center in an unnamed site.
As part of his $50.6 million acquisition of the Maryland Jockey Club in 2002, Frank Stronach purchased both Pimlico and Laurel Park on behalf of the now-defunct Magna Entertainment. When Pimlico is ready to reopen, Laurel Park will close, and the Stronach Group’s 1/ST Racing will cease active participation in Thoroughbred racing in Maryland. A non-profit association will be formed to take over the state’s racing operations.
The Stronach Group retains intellectual property rights to the Preakness and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and will be reimbursed annually through a licensing deal. The Stronach Group also owns the Rosecroft Raceway harness track in Maryland.
Laurel is set to host the Preakness Stakes, the Triple Crown’s middle jewel, in 2025 and 2026.
Negotiations between The Stronach Group and the newly constituted Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority resulted in the state’s bid to acquire Pimlico. While The Stronach Group has not specified what it intends to do with Laurel once racing is permanently relocated to Pimlico, the land is expected to be developed.
