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Preakness at Pimlico: Redevelopment and Temporary Move Timeline

BySam
By Published Updated
On this page 10 sections
  1. Why Pimlico Matters to the Preakness
  2. What Changed After the 2019 Proposal
  3. The Current Preakness Venue Schedule
  4. What the Temporary Move Changes for Bettors
  5. Why Baltimore Retains the Long-Term Race
  6. Historical Context Worth Keeping
  7. The 2019 Agreement in Retrospect
  8. Community and Year-Round Use
  9. Planning a Preakness Visit During Construction
  10. How to Read Future Schedule Updates

The Preakness Stakes is staying in Maryland, but the race is temporarily leaving Pimlico while the historic Baltimore track is rebuilt. The 150th Preakness was run at Pimlico in 2025. Demolition began afterward, and the 151st running in 2026 is scheduled for Laurel Park. Maryland’s current project schedule expects the Preakness to return to Pimlico in 2027, with additional work continuing before the permanent clubhouse is ready for 2028.

That sequence replaces the tentative 2019 proposal described in the original article. The central question is no longer whether an early agreement will receive legislative approval. The redevelopment is underway, Maryland controls the racing operation, and bettors need to know which venue is hosting each year.

Why Pimlico Matters to the Preakness

Pimlico Race Course opened in 1870 and has hosted the Preakness in nearly every year since 1873. The race is the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. Its Baltimore setting, tighter turns and two-week spacing after the Derby have helped give it a distinct identity.

The track is also linked to other milestones in American racing. Seabiscuit defeated War Admiral in their celebrated 1938 match race at Pimlico. Secretariat produced a historically disputed but ultimately recognized record performance in the 1973 Preakness. Those associations explain why moving the race permanently would have been more than a change of venue.

What Changed After the 2019 Proposal

The 2019 plan involved the City of Baltimore, track owner The Stronach Group and extensive public financing. It contemplated transferring the Pimlico property, demolishing the old grandstand, rotating the track and redeveloping surrounding parcels. It was a proposal, not a completed project, and several later agreements changed the ownership and operating structure.

Maryland subsequently created a public framework for Thoroughbred racing and redevelopment. The state acquired Pimlico for a nominal amount and the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority assumed responsibility for the racing operation through The Maryland Jockey Club. The Maryland Stadium Authority manages the construction program.

After the 2025 Preakness, the old structures at Pimlico were cleared for redevelopment. Laurel Park became the temporary center of racing and training. In 2026 Maryland completed the purchase of Laurel Park for use as a statewide training facility, replacing an earlier proposal to build a separate center at Shamrock Farm.

The Current Preakness Venue Schedule

  • 2025: the 150th Preakness was held at Pimlico before demolition.
  • 2026: Preakness 151 is scheduled for Laurel Park while Pimlico is rebuilt.
  • 2027: Preakness 152 is expected to return to Pimlico.
  • 2028: the permanent clubhouse is projected to be ready for Preakness 153.

Construction schedules can change, so a visitor should verify the venue and ticket instructions for the specific year. The Maryland Stadium Authority project page is the primary source for the current schedule.

What the Temporary Move Changes for Bettors

A race named “the Preakness” does not automatically carry every historical Pimlico tendency to another track. Laurel Park has a different configuration, surface maintenance program, stretch and local weather exposure. Handicappers should use the host track’s current condition and the official race-day distance rather than copying a Pimlico-specific angle from an old preview.

The temporary move also affects travel and attendance. Tickets, parking, seating maps and permitted items will be venue-specific. A bettor planning to attend should start with the official Preakness and Maryland racing information rather than an archived Pimlico guide.

The Triple Crown schedule remains demanding regardless of the venue. Horses coming from the Derby have a short recovery window, while new shooters may enter with additional rest. Pace, field size, post position and surface condition still matter more than a blanket “Pimlico bias.” Our evergreen Preakness Stakes guide covers the race itself; this page is specifically the venue and redevelopment timeline.

Why Baltimore Retains the Long-Term Race

The redevelopment is intended to preserve the Preakness in Baltimore while replacing facilities that had deteriorated over decades. A modernized Pimlico can support the race, year-round community uses and a more reliable visitor experience. The state’s ownership and operating structure also reduces the uncertainty that surrounded the earlier private-owner negotiations.

That does not make every projected date certain. Large construction programs face procurement, weather and engineering risks. The responsible way to describe the project is to distinguish completed events from expectations: demolition has occurred, the 2026 Laurel move is established, and the 2027 and 2028 Pimlico milestones remain scheduled targets.

Historical Context Worth Keeping

The redevelopment changes the buildings, not the meaning of the site. Pimlico remains connected to Seabiscuit, War Admiral and Secretariat. Returning the Preakness to Baltimore keeps that history visible while addressing the practical problems that threatened the venue.

The 2019 Agreement in Retrospect

The original announcement was still worth recording because it marked a turning point. Baltimore and the track owner had moved from threats and litigation toward a plan that treated Pimlico as both a racing venue and a redevelopment site. The proposed financing and land arrangement were debated, revised and eventually superseded, but they helped establish the principle that the Preakness could remain in Baltimore with major public investment.

Several numbers from that proposal should now be treated as historical, not current project costs. Construction scope, public entities and the training-center plan changed after 2019. Repeating the early allocation without a date would confuse readers about the project now being built.

Community and Year-Round Use

The Pimlico project is intended to serve more than one race weekend. Plans describe a modern racing facility alongside year-round uses and development opportunities for the surrounding community. That goal matters because a huge grandstand used briefly each year is difficult to sustain. A smaller, flexible facility can support the Preakness while allowing other events and neighborhood activity.

Community benefits are projections until delivered. Employment targets, contracting opportunities, transportation effects and nearby development should be evaluated against official project updates rather than promotional language. The Maryland Stadium Authority provides construction notices and a community newsletter for current information.

Planning a Preakness Visit During Construction

First confirm the host track. A search result or old ticket guide may still assume Pimlico. Next check the official transportation, entry and seating instructions, because Laurel Park and the rebuilt Pimlico will not use the same map. Buy tickets only through an authorized seller and verify accessibility arrangements directly with the event.

Weather and track condition can change quickly in Maryland in May. Bring only permitted items and use the official forecast, scratchings and race-day updates. If betting remotely, confirm that the service is authorized in your location and that it carries the Preakness pool you intend to use.

How to Read Future Schedule Updates

“Expected to return” is not the same as a completed move. The 2027 date is the published target for racing at the rebuilt track, while the permanent clubhouse is projected for 2028. If construction milestones change, this page should be updated by citing the public authority, not by converting a rumor into a definite statement.

For the latest field, post positions and wagering information, use official race sources close to Preakness week. This article should be treated as a redevelopment explainer, not a current betting preview.

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